GAIL CHRISTIAN was a pioneering news correspondent born on this date, who paved the way for Black women in the field (d: 2023); Christian made a name for herself for her on-air work while at NBC News and PBS. She had gained national attention in 1974 for her coverage of the trial of the Symbionese Liberation Army and their kidnapping of Patty Hearst of the publishing empire.
After serving time for armed robbery in her youth, Christian went on to curate an illustrious career for herself during a time where visibility for Black news anchors was little to none. In a 1986 interview, Christian said, “I always wanted to be ‘the Black reporter,’ as in covering Black stories. I felt that was the reason I was there. I didn’t resent it in the least. I felt then, as I feel now, it is very dangerous for a group of people to live in a society where they are not allowed to interpret themselves.”
Ms. Christian grew up in Venice, Calif., and spent three years studying world history at California State University, Los Angeles, before dropping out to join the Air Force in 1962. She fell in with a rough crowd after she was discharged, and in 1965 she was convicted of armed robbery after a stickup at a hotel.
After she had served her time, a fellow parolee who was working as a switchboard operator at The San Francisco Examiner gave her a tip that the newspaper was planning to hire two Black reporters to diversify its staff. Without any experience, Ms. Christian considered the opportunity a long shot, but she talked her way into an apprentice role by stretching the truth.
“I gave them this song and dance about having worked on this small Black paper that was burned out by the Klan,” she told The Tribune.
In 1970, she took part in an 11-week summer program for minority students in broadcast journalism at Columbia. (Geraldo Rivera was a classmate.) Two years later, she was hired by KNBC, the local NBC affiliate. She worked there for six years before being hired by NBC News.