Broadcast Pioneer
July 31, 2008 3:51 AM Subscribe
Edie Huggins was one of Philadelphia's most accomplished news journalists. The first African-America woman to report on television in Philadelphia. She began her career as a broadcaster in 1966 as a features reporter on WCAU-TV. In 2006, Philadelphia City Council declared March 30th “Edie Huggins Day” to honor Huggins’ more than 40 years of accurate news reporting and dedication to the City of Philadelphia.
Edie passed away yesterday at 72 years of age.
Huggins graduated cum laude from the State University of New York with a bachelor's degree in Science. After graduation, she worked at both Bellevue and Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospitals in New York City as a registered nurse. At the same time, she made national headlines by doubling as an actress and an unofficial consultant for the NBC daytime drama “The Doctors.” She also appeared on “The Edge of Night” and “Love of Life,” both produced by CBS Television.
In November 2002, Huggins was recognized for her achievements in broadcasting by being inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2006, she was inducted into the AFTRA Hall of Fame.
Mentor to dozens of up-and-coming broadcast journalists, Huggins served on many boards throughout the greater Philadelphia region and is one of the founding members of the National Association of Black Journalists, which honored her in 2005.
Philadelphia native Eugene Kane, now a columnist for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, remarked "I think she was the first black woman I ever saw on a regular basis on television news. That didn't really dawn on me until I became a journalist and could appreciate what her career represented.”
Huggins graduated cum laude from the State University of New York with a bachelor's degree in Science. After graduation, she worked at both Bellevue and Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospitals in New York City as a registered nurse. At the same time, she made national headlines by doubling as an actress and an unofficial consultant for the NBC daytime drama “The Doctors.” She also appeared on “The Edge of Night” and “Love of Life,” both produced by CBS Television.
In November 2002, Huggins was recognized for her achievements in broadcasting by being inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2006, she was inducted into the AFTRA Hall of Fame.
Mentor to dozens of up-and-coming broadcast journalists, Huggins served on many boards throughout the greater Philadelphia region and is one of the founding members of the National Association of Black Journalists, which honored her in 2005.
Philadelphia native Eugene Kane, now a columnist for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, remarked "I think she was the first black woman I ever saw on a regular basis on television news. That didn't really dawn on me until I became a journalist and could appreciate what her career represented.”
She was pretty much on-air through my entire lifetime, from my earliest memories watching a tiny B&W with rabbit ears. A very classy lady.
posted by fixedgear at 6:06 AM on July 31, 2008
posted by fixedgear at 6:06 AM on July 31, 2008
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