Amanda Davis (journalist)

This article is about the broadcast journalist. For other uses, see Amanda Davis (disambiguation).
Amanda Davis
Born
Amanda Marie Davis

October 17, 1955
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 27, 2017(2017-12-27) (aged 62)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
EducationClark College
Years active1979–2017[1]

Amanda Marie Davis (October 17, 1955 – December 27, 2017)[2] was an American broadcast journalist and morning anchor of CBS 46 News in Atlanta, formerly working for Fox 5 News.[3]

Early life

Davis was born in Atlanta in 1955.[1]

Education

Davis graduated magna cum laude from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]

Career

Early years (1979–1986)

Davis initially worked as a reporter for NBC affiliate WCNC-TV (then known as WRET-TV, before changing to WPCQ-TV in 1980) in Charlotte, North Carolina, for about four years. Afterwards, she worked at the short-lived Satellite News Channel. After SNC was bought out and shut down by Turner Broadcasting in 1983, Davis spent the next three years freelancing.[5]

WAGA-TV Atlanta (1986–2013)

In 1986, Davis moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to work as a reporter for the CBS affiliate WAGA-TV (WAGA-TV would change their affiliation to FOX in December 1994).[6][7] She was one of the original anchors of Good Day Atlanta when it debuted in 1992, before moving to the prime time newscast team in 1997.

During her tenure on the prime time news team, which saw her paired up with fellow reporter Russ Spencer, Davis was well known as the first journalist to host the "Wednesday's Child" segment since its launch by the Freddie Mac Foundation in 2000.[8][9] She was also noted for covering activist Coretta Scott King's funeral and interviewing President-elect Barack Obama.[10] Following a DUI arrest in November 2012, she retired from the network in 2013 after nearly 27 years.[11][12] She was replaced by Cynnè Simpson as the host of the 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts, while Lisa Rayam replaced Davis as the host of the 6 p.m. broadcast.[13]

WGCL-TV Atlanta (2015–2017)

In 2015, after two years in retirement, Davis signed with Atlanta's CBS affiliate, WGCL-TV. Before she was scheduled to make a debut on its "Just a Minute" segment in June, she was arrested again for a DUI.[11][7] Her debut was put on hold, as she received probation and entered rehab. After the stint in rehab, she was the subject of a three-part special about her alcoholism. On January 2, 2017, feeling she had beaten her addiction, she finally debuted with WGCL-TV on its morning and afternoon shows, following an arrest for driving under a suspended license in December.[11]

Personal life

Death

On December 26, 2017, Davis had a stroke at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport while waiting for a flight to San Antonio, Texas, to attend her stepfather's funeral the next day. She was taken to a local hospital, where she died the next night, at the age of 62.[14]

Legacy

In honor of Davis, and to raise stroke awareness, several news anchors and reporters across the country wore red under the hashtag, #RedforAmanda.[15] Davis made a posthumous cameo appearance in the debut episode of The CW series Black Lightning.[16] The seventh episode "Equinox: The Book of Fate" is dedicated in her memory.

Accolades

Davis won several awards, including ten Southeast Emmy Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Jubera, Drew (December 21, 1993). "WAGA's morning show is an easygoing success". Atlanta Journal-Constitution: D1. Amanda Davis: Hometown: San Antonio...'I've been in the business 14 years, and this is the happiest I've been. I'm disappointed I'm not the main anchor [at 6 and 11 p.m.], but this has been a shot in the arm. I've reported in the snow, the rain, the heat. I like sitting in here.'
  2. ^ Srivatsa, Amrutha (December 28, 2017). "News Anchor Amanda Davis Dies at 62, From A Massive Spontaneous Stroke". Earn The Necklace. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Team, WGCL Digital (December 8, 2016). "Veteran anchor Amanda Davis joins CBS46 News". Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  4. ^ "Amanda Davis". February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on April 27, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  5. ^ "Remembering Amanda Davis, her career and impact in Atlanta". WAGA. December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  6. ^ Ho, Rodney (December 27, 2016). "Local TV year in review: Amanda Davis, 'Stranger Things,' FX's 'Atlanta,' CNN". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Ho, Rodney (June 15, 2015). "Amanda Davis of Fox 5 arrested on DUI charges". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  8. ^ "Wednesday's Child Annual Celebration". dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov. June 19, 2006. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  9. ^ "Atlanta Newswoman Amanda Davis Arrested for DUI". Atlnightspots. November 12, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  10. ^ Eldredge, Richard (April 26, 2013). "Fox 5 anchor Amanda Davis' weird, sad exit - Atlanta Magazine". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c Habersham, Raisa (December 13, 2016). "Atlanta news anchor Amanda Davis arrested on suspended license". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  12. ^ Lohr, David (November 13, 2012). "Georgia News Anchor Arrested For DUI After Head-On Collision". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  13. ^ "Cynnè Simpson Named WAGA Evening Anchor". Ad Week. July 30, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "CBS46 anchor Amanda Davis passes away". WGCL-TV. December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  15. ^ Siegel, Stephanie Tsoflias (January 4, 2018). "Journalists Unite on Social Media in Honor of Amanda Davis". Ad Week. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  16. ^ Ho, Rodney (January 10, 2018). "Amanda Davis will appear on CWs' 'Black Lightning' January 16 | Radio and TV Talk". Retrieved January 13, 2018.