Bunyan Inducted into NABJ Hall of Fame

Maureen Bunyan was one of eight people inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame on Jan. 16 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. She is a 44-year veteran of television news and a trailblazer for women, African-Americans and journalists in Washington, D.C., and across the country.

Born in Aruba, Bunyan immigrated to Milwaukee with her family when she was 11 years old. Her parents were determined that she and her two sisters get the benefit of a higher education —which she began at a small college in northwestern Wisconsin. “She was the first black student there and she said it was rough finding somebody to be her roommate,” says WJLA reporter Sam Ford.

Bunyan began her broadcasting career at WGBH in Boston in 1970, reported at WCBS-TV in New York and, in 1973, came to Washington to anchor at Channel 9 for 22 years before joining WJLA in 1999.

Bunyan reported from around the world, meeting and interviewing historical figures like first ladies Barbara Bush and Rosalynn Carter, civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and many others. She earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard and became a mentor to many rising broadcasting journalists.

SAG-AFTRA was a proud sponsor of the event and salutes Bunyan for this well-deserved honor. Congratulations, Maureen, from all of your friends at SAG-AFTRA!

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White attended the NABJ event. From left, Washington-Mid Atlantic Local Executive Director Pat O'Donnell, White and Hall of Fame honoree Maureen Bunyan.

This item was originally featured in the February 2014 local newsletter.