Mary Alice Williams

Inducted 2006

One of the most esteemed names in network news, Mary Alice Williams brings an impressive history in broadcast journalism to her current roles at CBS News and the Discovery Health Channel. A Minneapolis native, Williams began her career as a reporter at KSTP TV in the Twin Cities, later moving to New York with WPIX TV and later with NBC flagship WNBC. She rose to prominence as one of the founding anchors at CNN and served as Vice President in charge of its New York Bureau, becoming one of the highest ranking female executives in American television. She joined NBC News in 1989 and became the first woman to win a national Emmy Award for anchoring an evening newscast. She has written and hosted highly acclaimed specials for PBS, ABC, and Lifetime, and has won numerous awards for her work in television, radio, and interactive media. She is recognized today as one of the most important voices covering foreign policy, ethics, technology, and health.