Tony Cox (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Tony Cox is an American
radio and television journalist
who is host of the syndicated radio talk show UpFront with Tony Cox and previously was host of News & Notes
on National Public Radio (NPR).
Cox is a graduate of UCLA, where he earned a bachelor's degree
in English and a Master of Fine Arts
degree in Theatre. He started his radio career in 1969 at KFWB in Los Angeles
, an all-news station where he was a writer, editor, reporter and anchor. In 1982, he became a reporter and early morning anchor for the Los Angeles television
station KCBS-TV
. In 1985, he changed stations, joining Los Angeles FOX affiliate KTTV
as an anchor and later anchored for KHJ-TV
(now KCAL). He also spent 10 years as a senior correspondent for Inside Edition
, and has worked on FOX Sports Net
’s The Last Word With Jim Rome
and as a correspondent for DirecTV
Sports.
In 2002, Cox became affiliated with National Public Radio, where his assignments included work as a substitute host on the Tavis Smiley Show and where he later was host of News & Notes. After News & Notes was ended in 2009, he teamed with the African American Public Radio Consortium to develop UpFront with Tony Cox, a daily news and talk show with an interview format that is aimed at African American
audiences. It went on the air in October 2009 and was being broadcast in 17 U.S. radio markets as of January 2011.
Cox has received seven awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, including an award for News & Notes in 2008, and one Los Angeles-area Emmy Award
. A founding member and first president of the Black Journalists Association of Southern California, he has served as a vice president for the National Association of Black Journalists
and has received two NAACP Image Award
s.
In addition to his radio work, Cox holds a position on the faculty for Television, Film and Media Studies at California State University, Los Angeles
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio and television 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 is host of the syndicated radio talk show UpFront with Tony Cox and previously was host of News & Notes
News & Notes
News & Notes was a National Public Radio program focusing on issues affecting African-Americans and African diaspora communities. The listernership was multiracial and international. The program aired for one hour each weekday and was hosted by Farai Chideya until January 16, 2009, and then by Tony...
on National Public Radio (NPR).
Cox is a graduate of UCLA, where he earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English and a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree in Theatre. He started his radio career in 1969 at KFWB 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...
, an all-news station where he was a writer, editor, reporter and anchor. In 1982, he became a reporter and early morning anchor for the Los Angeles television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, channel 2, is an owned-and-operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles, California. KCBS-TV shares its offices and studio facilities with sister station KCAL-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter...
. In 1985, he changed stations, joining Los Angeles FOX affiliate KTTV
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
as an anchor and later anchored for KHJ-TV
KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV, channel 9, is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, USA, owned by the CBS Corporation. KCAL-TV shares its studio facilities with KCBS-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.-Digital...
(now KCAL). He also spent 10 years as a senior correspondent for Inside Edition
Inside Edition
Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program, first aired on CBS on October 9, 1988. It was originally similar to the programs Hard Copy and A Current Affair, but now more closely resembles a condensed version of breakfast television, exclusively with pre-recorded...
, and has worked on FOX Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
’s The Last Word With Jim Rome
Jim Rome
Jim Rome is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications....
and as a correspondent for DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
Sports.
In 2002, Cox became affiliated with National Public Radio, where his assignments included work as a substitute host on the Tavis Smiley Show and where he later was host of News & Notes. After News & Notes was ended in 2009, he teamed with the African American Public Radio Consortium to develop UpFront with Tony Cox, a daily news and talk show with an interview format that is aimed at African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
audiences. It went on the air in October 2009 and was being broadcast in 17 U.S. radio markets as of January 2011.
Cox has received seven awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, including an award for News & Notes in 2008, and one Los Angeles-area Emmy Award
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...
. A founding member and first president of the Black Journalists Association of Southern California, he has served as a vice president for the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
and has received two NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
s.
In addition to his radio work, Cox holds a position on the faculty for Television, Film and Media Studies at California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
.