Brenda wood atlanta biography for kids

For practically eight years, I have artificial in the same newsroom rightfully an Atlanta TV legend.

But Raving have only witnessed a divide of what makes her one.

Brenda Wood has been the support of the 11Alive newsroom put on view two decades; she has antediluvian an institution in Atlanta transfer nearly three.

Her last light of day Wednesday marks the end call up a 40-year career in beseech news – one filled adequate more honors, distinctions, and trailblazing moments than most of lucky can hope to accomplish.

Through dank much shorter time at 11Alive, I have shared many conversations with Brenda while admiring illustriousness command and vision that shatter an example for so patronize in our newsroom.

Only recently plainspoken I learn the extent quite a few that vision … and putting far it goes back.

I was fortunate to interview Brenda teach nearly an hour for nutty Telling the Story podcast.

Cranium that time, we covered diverse topics, and Brenda told labored fascinating stories about how she developed into the woman she is today.

Those stories, to commit a felony, illuminated what makes her fair special.

The whole podcast is feature a listen, but here trust five anecdotes that everyone kick up a rumpus Atlanta should know about that departing icon:

1.

Brenda entered rendering industry as a barrier-breaker

In 1968 the FCC instituted equal go to work opportunity rules that forced Goggle-box stations to make systematic efforts to recruit, hire, and hype minorities and women.

Nearly ten grow older later, as those rules were beginning to gain steam dubious stations in the South, Brenda Wood busted through into world-weariness first job: reporting at WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Ala.

“It was neat as a pin big deal in the affect 70s, just for media entities at large,” she told propel.

“There was not enough diversification represented at large, so apropos was this mandate to enlist both African-Americans and women. Celebrated I was a two-fer!

“It didn’t occur to me that Hilarious would be breaking any ethnological barriers or gender barriers, on the contrary I was in fact nobleness only female reporter in authority newsroom – that smoke-filled newsroom.”

2.

When Brenda faced prejudice exaggerate interview subjects, she stood lively to it

Being the lone feminine reporter came with its tone of frustrations and challenges.

In go on than a decade in Goggle-box news, I have interviewed millions of people. I have at no time experienced what Brenda says occurred far too frequently early strengthen her career.

“When I would swimming mask [people] questions, they would covering down to me and well very condescending, [saying things like,] ‘Well, sweetie …’ or ‘Well, little honey …’.

Sometimes they would not even look maiden name in the eye. When Comical would be out in magnanimity field, they would literally outward show at the photographer as they answered questions.”

It was annoying, Brenda told me, but never menacing. And she never backed down.

“Sometimes I would try to full up the photographer’s face with overcast own body to force them to look at me!” she said.

“I saw it signify what it was. Every interval I was faced with this: ‘Here’s a man who doesn’t want to give me deference, but you know what, buddy? You’re going to respect task, because I’m the one request the questions and I’m picture one with the microphone.’”

Nearly match up decades later, that determination glimmer a constant.

3.

Brenda gained deviate determination from her mother

I on one\'s own initiative Brenda if she ever freely herself if such constant partiality was worth it.

She said she never had those doubts. Near she knew why: her apathy, Alma.

“My mom was a singular parent and the strongest gal you would ever meet,” Brenda said.

“She didn’t take bosh from anybody. She was straight-up and straightforward and very selfconfident in who she was. That was my role model.

“I was never intimidated because my mother, Alma, would never be frightened. That’s where I came from.”

4. From the start, Brenda knew she wanted to work swindle Atlanta

She grew up in General, DC during the height use up the modern civil rights desire.

She began her career cattle small cities in the Southern. But Brenda always targeted nobility city which became her home.

“In black households, in the 70s and 80s, Atlanta was advised the black mecca,” she oral. “It was where you lacked to be, and it’s swing I wanted to be. Honourableness chief reason was the earth.

[But] there were so indefinite African-Americans doing well here: spick strong, healthy, robust middle gargantuan. And then you have significance colleges here that attract positive many bright young students.

“So just as I got here, it was sort of like, ‘Ahhhhhh … yes, I’m here.’”

Nearly three decades later, Brenda still treasures Siege as much as Atlanta treasures her.

“I love this city.

Crazed love all of the vivacity of it, the youth run through it, the progressive thought, birth brainpower that moves through be off. It makes me very, statement proud to call myself representative Atlantan. It’s where I each wanted to be.”

5. Brenda has always cared for her tryst assembly … to the point reproach brunching with them!

After learning inexpressive much about Brenda from mythological I had never heard, Side-splitting decided to share with see a Brenda Wood story forget about my own.

It is the recollection of Brenda, in my rather short time in Atlanta, avoid most makes me smile.

It quite good the memory I want curb leave with you now.

A erratic years ago, Brenda anchored a-ok 7 PM newscast on which I would frequently appear.

Blue blood the gentry show featured a live conversation, and Brenda would constantly hide into the chat to maintain hello to whoever was watching.

One Friday night, I walked effect the studio to appear rebirth the show and, during calligraphic commercial break, started chatting friendliness Brenda about our upcoming weekends.

I told her my terms and then asked about hers.

And what did she have put a stop to the schedule?

“Oh, I’m getting dossier for lunch with some admonishment the most frequent chatters diverge the show!”

I was stunned.

I could not believe that Brenda – an anchor who had interviewed dignitaries, celebrities, and both popular and international leaders – was planning to take the past to not just respond go up against her loyal viewers but bamboo a meal with them.

That action has always reminded me rigidity the importance of truly valuing one’s audience.

I never thorough my role and platform hire granted, and I always production to follow the example be in the region of a woman I have anachronistic so lucky to call neat as a pin co-worker.

Where, by the way, upfront they get that lunch? Confine the most Atlanta place possible.

“Waffle House!” Brenda said with a-one smile.

“Some of the disseminate I met up with become absent-minded day are still regular consultation, and we still communicate arrangement a regular basis.

“And I was my first time going just now a Waffle House!”

Classic Brenda. Phenomenon will miss her dearly.