Diann Burns

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Diann Burns
Image:DiannBurns.jpg Diann Burns
Born	September, 1956

Diann Burns (born September, 1956) is the news anchor at CBS owned & operated WBBM-TV in Chicago since 2003 for the 4pm, 5pm, and 10pm weekday news programs. She is the first African-American woman to anchor the prime time news in Chicago,... the only one to this day (November, 2006).

1 BIO
2 Film Credits
3 External link

[edit] BIO

[edit] Career Outline

Diann Burns began her career as a print journalist in Cleveland Ohio for The Plain Dealer (newspaper) in the 1970's. In 1983, she joined NBC affiliated WCMH television as a general assignment reporter, where she was named anchor reporter in 1984. From 1985 until 2003, she was the 5pm & 10pm weekday news anchor at American Broadcasting Company (ABC) owned & operated WLS-TV Chicago, where she was Chicago's highest-paid television news personality before joining WBBM-TV in 2003. She remains Chicago's best-known, most-loved (according to surveys) and highest paid TV news personality. (ABC) is owned by The Walt Disney Company.

[edit] Most Dangerous Live Reports

War-torn Somalia, where she was NOT embedded with US troops, but on her own. No makeup, no lighting, no running water.
Reporting live just outside a house rigged with enough explosives to destroy the entire neighborhood -- the bomb was part of a booby-trap left for rescuers and police responding to the body in a suicide.

[edit] Most Dramatic Live On-Camera Moments

With Nelson Mandela during his first US tour after his release from 27 years in prison.
Questioning the man who murdered the father of Michael Jordan.

[edit] Awards

Among Burns' many awards are 5 Emmys.

[edit] Volunteer Work & Philanthropy

Burns has awarded record scholarships for underpriveleged students to go to college. She is the spokesperson for Pediatric Aids Chicago. Burns also works with "Girls in the Game," an organization that promotes fitness and health as a way to teach girls to persevere and gain confidence to careers. Burns also is active with the Ronald McDonald House, the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and The Support Group, an organization that assists high school students with school work and home life by providing tutoring and social services. Burns lends her time and talent to the benefit of numerous other causes, especially organizations that focus on children and education.

[edit] Education

Burns has an undergraduate degree in Politics and Mass Communications from Cleveland State University and a Masters degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

[edit] Family

Burns and her husband, Marc Watts, and their grade-school aged son reside in Chicago's Lincoln Park, see Chicago Tribune: "http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_10_60/ai_n14835532".