Edie Huggins—A Pioneer of Broadcast Journalism—Remembered

My story about Edie Huggins is all about me. And, that is the way it was for most of us who sat at her feet in counsel. It was all about us... We came to her for whatever...She expected it, I believe.
Edie Huggins was the first fruit of the larger struggle for equality in broadcast journalism.
Ms. Huggins had walked the walk and stayed the course for 42 years and racked up treasury chests of firsts and high honors.
She had truly cracked glass ceilings and knocked down many ironclad doors for budding journalists, such as myself, to walk through.
For me Ms. Huggins was my first African American mentor in journalism.
When I arrived at WCAU-TV in the early 80’s as its first black news producer, she invited me to her office and asked, “Are you ready?” I said yes. She said, “I know your are.” Up until then, some seven years into my career, no one had confirmed that I was ready.
When I moved to CNN, she gave my wife Valerie and me her blessings. We stayed in touch. And, when I became Vice President of CNN News Features Programming, the only person I called to tell was Edie...She said simply, “Now sign on with Dr. Frick and Frack because you’re going to need it,” that was her way of saying, stay on track and stay grounded.
We love you Edie. You left us all with a wealth of good stories to tell about your endearing legacy.NewsJReview.
NBC10.com