A story on a pioneer. Broadcaster Bea Thompson deserves that title. In 1980, Thompson was a reporter at WBTV when she was promoted to morning anchor. She became the first female black TV news anchor in Charlotte. Thompson is also a rarity in the industry – she spent her entire 40-year career in her hometown. And her style is also distinctive. She’s easily recognizable for her “tell it like it is” demeanor.
Last month, Thompson stepped away from broadcasting full-time. She’s now doing PR for a mental health non-profit. But we wanted to get her in a recording studio at least one more time. She stopped by WFAE to talk about her broadcasting career.
DMT022516BeaExtend.mp3
Extended conversation: Bea Thompson discusses memorable stories and her concerns about television journalism.