New York City media legend Sue Simmons was recently honored for her career as anchor for WNBC 4. At a dinner held in Midtown at the Time-Life Building Simmons was honored by Essence magazine, Black Employees at Time (BE@T) and the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ)
Several notable Black media professionals and celebrities attended the dinner including Al Roker of the Today Show, Sandra Bookman of WABC 7, Dari Alexander from WNYW/FOX 5, author Terrie Williams and New York Amsterdam News Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Elinor Tatum. R&B singer/songwriter Valerie Simpson was also on hand to give Simmons a musical tribute.
NYABJ Vice President of Broadcast and NY1 News anchor Cheryl Wills served as emcee for the dinner. Simmons talked about her journey to becoming one of the city’s top-rated media professionals and shared stories about her many years behind the anchor desk.
“Sue has been a major inspiration to the New York City African-American community ever since she first appeared on WNBC-TV back in 1980,” said Jacklyn Monk, BE@T co-chair and deputy managing editor at Real Simple. “Seeing Sue deliver the news everyday served as a constant reminder to many young African-Americans that you could achieve your goals, whatever they were.”
Michael Feeney, who serves a President of NYABJ, said Simmons is inspiration for many journalists of color working in the field or have aspirations to do so.
“She changed the face of broadcast news in New York City and it is our hope that her legacy continues through the countless number of Black journalists that follow in her footsteps,” he said.
Essence magazine Editor-in-Chief Constance White pointed out Simmons’ inspiration to Black women.
“Sue Simmons is a New York City trailblazer and broadcasting icon,” White said. “She is also the epitome of an Essence woman: talented, beautiful, fearless and unique. She is the complete journalist cherished by her colleagues and by her audience.”
Simmons ended her 32-year run anchoring the news for WNBC 4 after the station decided not to renew her contract. Her final broadcast aired in June. Simmons is best known for co-anchoring Live at Five and WNBC 4’s 11pm newscast with Chuck Scarborough.