Robin Smith (reporter)

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Robin Smith
Born
Occupations
  • News Anchor(1974 - 2015)
  • News Reporter (1974 - 2015)
  • Politician - Democratic Party Candidate and Nominee - Missouri
  • Communications and Political Strategist (2016 - Present)
Years active1974 - Present
Spouses

Robin Smith is an African-American television news anchor and reporter in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Her news career began in 1974 and lasted until her retirement in 2015. Smith has won 4 Emmy Awards, including one for Best Anchor and she was inducted into the Silver Circle - all awarded by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Mid-America Chapter. Smith has anchored for CBS Television Network on KMOX-TV (now KMOV-TV), KSD-TV (now KSDK-TV) an NBC affiliate, and KTVI-TV (an ABC Network affiliate at the time).

Early life and education[edit]

Smith is from Saint Louis, Missouri. She is the daughter of Wayman F. Smith Jr. and Edythe M. Smith. She has two siblings, including older brother Wayman F. Smith III.[1]

Smith graduated from Lindenwood College with a B.A. in Communications Arts and Psychology. She also holds a graduate degree in Business, an Executive Masters in International Business (EMIB) from the John Cook school of Business and Administration at Saint Louis University.[2]

Career[edit]

Smith’s television career began at KMOX-TV, a CBS Television Network-owned and operated Channel 4 KMOX-TV station in Saint Louis, Missouri where she interned during the summer of 1973. She worked as an assistant director and producer at that time.[3]

While still in college in June 1974, Smith began her professional TV career as an on- air news interviewer and assistant producer on KSD-TV, an NBC-affiliate in Saint Louis. At the age of 19, Smith was the youngest on air TV personality in St. Louis.[4] She rose to prominence in the mid-1970s on KTVI-TV.[5] She remained there for 3 years as a News Anchor, News Reporter and produced several close-up features, documentaries and investigative reporting.

On June 1, 1978, Smith accepted the offer from CBS Television Network to join their news division -at KMOX-TV Channel 4(now KMOV-TV) in Saint Louis— as a news anchor and reporter. She remained there for 37 years anchoring primetime newscasts at Noon, 5pm, 6pm, and 10pm.[6]

In 2015, Smith retired from her television news career to run for Missouri Secretary of State[7][8] but lost to Jay Ashcroft.[9]

Awards[edit]

Smith is the winner of 4 Emmy Awards including for Best News Anchor, Reporting and was inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Association of Television, Arts and Sciences in 2002.[10] Smith also received the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism.[11][4] She is a founding member of the Saint Louis Association of Black Journalists.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ King, Chris; Vaughn, Kenya (2020-09-23). "'A great warrior, a great leader and politician'". St. Louis American. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. ^ "Robin Smith (Missouri)". Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Robin Smith". Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b Jordan, Sandra (30 July 2015). "Robin Smith of KMOV 4 retires after 42 years in broadcast journalism". The St. Louis American. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Best Hair on a Local TV Personality (Female)". Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Robin Smith's Biography". Retrieved 13 July 2021. see Additional Information and Professional Experience
  7. ^ Barr, Diana (August 3, 2015). "Former TV news anchor Robin Smith to run for Missouri secretary of state". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  8. ^ "Analysis: 10 states still haven't elected minority statewide". The Associated Press. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Jay Ashcroft wins Secretary of State race". FOX 2. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  10. ^ "Gold * Silver Circles". Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Visibility, Advocacy, Training, Resources, Networking and Awards for Broadcast and Digital Journalists". Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. ^ "History". Retrieved 20 February 2022.