Anchor Calls Out Nashville Station for Lack of Color
/WKRN's Anne Holt, Nashville’s first African-American TV anchor is calling out the Nexstar station.
Holt says she is disappointed and concerned the station has only one full-time African-American personality on air.
The Tennessean writes that Holt's comments came after the station announced traffic reporter Paige Hill, who is African-American, is leaving. Hill, whose last day on air is Wednesday, is joining the gubernatorial campaign of former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, the station's website said.
"I've made no secret of being disappointed that we don't have [more] representation on air," Holt told The Tennessean.
"It's a concern for me. I wish we had a different makeup," said Holt, who became Nashville's first African-American anchor in 1980.
Holt announced a year ago she was leaving the anchor desk, but she still produces weekly segments for News 2's afternoon newscasts.
News 2 general manager Tracey Rogers and news director Elbert Tucker did not respond to emails and voicemail messages asking for comment Tuesday.
"It’s a very diverse city. It is more diverse now than it has ever been," Holt said. "The newsroom should reflect the diversity of the community it serves."
Two other reporters of color, Joseph Pleasant and Najahe Sherman, also have left News 2.
Reporter Larry Flowers now is the only full-time African-American personality on air at News 2.