Monica Pearson

Monica Pearson is a pioneering journalist, speaker, and advocate whose powerful voice on racial equality is deeply rooted in her own lived experiences. Currently, she holds several media roles, including co-host of A Seat at the Table on Georgia Public Broadcasting, and host of Monica Pearson One on One on WPCH-TV and The Monica Pearson Show with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As the first African-American and first woman to anchor the evening news in Atlanta in 1975, her trailblazing career continues to shape her work as a speaker. Her personal battles with cancer and decades of navigating the media industry as a Black woman have shaped her compelling talks on race, resilience, and representation. Among her most requested presentations are ‘Re-wirement’, a talk on reinventing oneself at any stage of life, and ‘Putting the “Pro” Back in Professional’, which addresses professionalism through the lens of inclusion, identity, and lived experience.

Monica began her journey in journalism while still in high school, reading prayers and voicing religious programming for local Black-owned radio stations. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Louisville and later attended Columbia University’s summer programme for minorities at the Graduate School of Journalism. After gaining experience at WHAS-TV and the Louisville Times, she moved to Atlanta in 1975 to join WSB-TV, where she made history. Her nearly four-decade tenure at WSB included hosting Closeups, where she interviewed over 170 celebrities and changemakers, and became a household name in Georgia.

Over the years, Monica has earned an impressive list of accolades. She has won more than 33 regional Emmy Awards and was honoured by the U.S. House of Representatives upon her retirement from WSB in 2012. Notably, she was the first African-American woman to chair the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors in 2022 and received the R.I.C.E. Lifetime Achievement Award that same year. Other honours include induction into six Halls of Fame, such as the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame and the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, reflecting her impact both in media and in the fight for racial equity.

Monica’s speaking engagements blend personal insight with broader societal themes. ‘Re-wirement’ encourages audiences to break barriers and redefine purpose, especially in later life, while ‘Putting the “Pro” Back in Professional’ challenges outdated norms of professionalism through an equity lens. These topics highlight how race, identity, and opportunity intersect in personal and professional growth. Monica’s voice resonates because it is authentic, informed by decades of breaking ceilings and speaking truth. She is hired not just for her credentials, but because her story and style inspire reflection, action, and lasting change.