Asha Blake
Encyclopedia
Asha Blake is an Emmy award-winning
journalist
who anchored KTLA
-TV News @ 1PM with Frank Buckley in Los Angeles
. She previously was the anchor of the 9:00 p.m. news on Denver's CW
affiliate, KWGN-TV
before leaving KWGN in 2007 to return to Los Angeles. She was replaced by Vida Urbonas.
and in Minnesota
. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota
's journalism school.
-TV in Grand Junction
, Colorado
. She also worked as an anchor/reporter for KTHV
in Little Rock
.
From 1987 until 1993, Blake was a reporter for KARE
-TV in Minneapolis. From 1993 until 1996, Blake was an anchor and reporter at WDIV-TV
in Detroit.
In 1996, Blake joined ABC News
in New York. She became an anchor for ABC's "World News Now
", "World News This Morning" and "Good Morning America Sunday" as well as a reporter for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.
In 1999, Blake joined NBC News
, where she co-hosted NBC's "Later Today" with Florence Henderson
and Jodi Applegate
.
After "Later Today" went off the air in 2000, Blake hosted two syndicated programs, "Smart Gardening" on PBS and the nationally syndicated "Life Moments".
Blake also was considered to be the top candidate for a 10 p.m. news anchor job at WBBM-TV
in Chicago in late 2000, according to an article in the October 18, 2000 Chicago Sun-Times. Blake eventually dropped out of the running for the job, however, and the Sun-Times reported in a separate news article on November 15, 2000, however, that the two sides "were believed to be too far apart on money to continue negotiations.",
In 2005, Blake joined KWGN-TV
. In 2007, she joined KTLA
-TV, which she has since left.
Blake and Dusbabek live in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles
.
Blake is the founder of her own production company called Golden Heart Media Inc.
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who anchored KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
-TV News @ 1PM with Frank Buckley in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. She previously was the anchor of the 9:00 p.m. news on Denver's CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
affiliate, KWGN-TV
KWGN-TV
KWGN-TV, virtual channel 2 , is a television station in Denver, Colorado, owned by the Tribune Company and affiliated with the CW Television Network...
before leaving KWGN in 2007 to return to Los Angeles. She was replaced by Vida Urbonas.
Early life and education
Born in South America, Blake grew up in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
's journalism school.
Professional career
Blake began her career at KJCTKJCT
KJCT is a television station in Grand Junction, Colorado that serves the Grand Junction-Montrose market. It is an affiliate of the American Broadcasting Company owned and operated by the News-Press & Gazette Company...
-TV in Grand Junction
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. She also worked as an anchor/reporter for KTHV
KTHV
KTHV , is the CBS network affiliate television station serving the Little Rock/Pine Bluff television market and central Arkansas. The station is owned by Gannett Company, which purchased the station in 1994...
in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
.
From 1987 until 1993, Blake was a reporter for KARE
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
-TV in Minneapolis. From 1993 until 1996, Blake was an anchor and reporter at WDIV-TV
WDIV-TV
WDIV-TV, virtual channel 4, is an NBC-affiliated television station based in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is owned by Post-Newsweek Stations and is the flagship station and home base of the group with the offices of the group located alongside WDIV's studios; the "Local" branding now...
in Detroit.
In 1996, Blake joined ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
in New York. She became an anchor for ABC's "World News Now
World News Now
World News Now is an American overnight news program broadcast on American Broadcasting Company's television network. Its tone is often lighthearted, irreverent and humorous...
", "World News This Morning" and "Good Morning America Sunday" as well as a reporter for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.
In 1999, Blake joined NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
, where she co-hosted NBC's "Later Today" with Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson
Florence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
and Jodi Applegate
Jodi Applegate
Jodi Applegate is an American news anchor for WPIX New York. She formerly anchored WNYW-TV's Good Day New York and News 12 Long Island.-Life and career:...
.
After "Later Today" went off the air in 2000, Blake hosted two syndicated programs, "Smart Gardening" on PBS and the nationally syndicated "Life Moments".
Blake also was considered to be the top candidate for a 10 p.m. news anchor job at WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago in late 2000, according to an article in the October 18, 2000 Chicago Sun-Times. Blake eventually dropped out of the running for the job, however, and the Sun-Times reported in a separate news article on November 15, 2000, however, that the two sides "were believed to be too far apart on money to continue negotiations.",
In 2005, Blake joined KWGN-TV
KWGN-TV
KWGN-TV, virtual channel 2 , is a television station in Denver, Colorado, owned by the Tribune Company and affiliated with the CW Television Network...
. In 2007, she joined KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
-TV, which she has since left.
Charity and public service
Blake has been actively involved with many charity organizations, including serving as a celebrity ambassador for UNICEF, volunteering for Make A Wish, and supporting Race For A Cure and Meals on Wheels. Following the 9/11 Attacks, Asha created and launched a public service website providing a free planning guide to help organize pertinent personal information in the event of an emergency. She is also writing a book version, 4My Emergency, to help families in crisis.Personal
Blake is married to former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Mark Dusbabek and has a daughter, Sasha. She has a passion for photography, rollerblading, and reading.Blake and Dusbabek live in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Blake is the founder of her own production company called Golden Heart Media Inc.
External links
- Golden Heart Media Inc.
- Asha Blake To Co-Host A Major New Show Rediff - June 22, 1999