Diann Burns Biography

Synopsis

Diann Burns is a former American television news anchor. She is the winner of nine Emmy Awards. She is noted for her years as a primetime host in Chicago, the second largest market. Similarly, Diann Burns has also appeared in numerous major movies like ‘Richie Rich’, ‘Primal Fear’ and ‘The Negotiator’. Diann is the first African-American woman to anchor the primetime news in Chicago.

Early life and career

Diann Burns was born on September 29, 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the daughter of a Methodist preacher. For most of her childhood, she was surrounded by extended family and often received the support and generosity of her family as she grew up. Her family moved several times when she was a child. They lived briefly in Pittsburgh and then Cincinnati, before moving back to Cleveland. Burns became interested in theater and also acted during her high school. However, after pursuing a career on the stage, she turned to journalism. Diann attended the prestigious Columbia University School of Journalism and began working as a general assignment reporter at the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

News presenter and reporter

From 1981 to 1983, Diann Burns worked at WPIX and in 1983, she joined NBC affiliate WCMH television as a general assignment reporter, where she later worked as a news anchor. Later, she became a weekday news anchor at the American Broadcasting Company operated at WLS-TV Chicago, becoming the first African-American woman to hold that position. While working at ABC, Diann was the highest paid television news professional in Chicago. However, she later worked at WBBM-TV as a host for Weekday, until she left WBBM in 2008.

Most Notable Reports

Diann Burns is one of the most talented and popular journalists of all time. During her distinguished career, she has given some extraordinary reports to her audience, sometimes even putting her life in danger. Some of the notable reports of her include reports of her from Somalia, where Diann was not embedded with US troops, instead she was on her own with no lighting, no running water, and no teleprompters. Similarly, he reports live just outside a mobile home rigged with enough explosives to destroy an entire neighborhood in Glenview, Cook Country, Illinois, interviewing Nelson Mandela after his release after 27 years as a political prisoner under apartheid in South Africa. ,

Television and Film Career

Diann Burns has also been interested in acting and has appeared in several major films, playing herself, such as ‘Primal Fear’, ‘The Negotiator’ and ‘Richie Rich’. Similarly, she also appeared in the TV series ‘Boss’ in episode five, starring Kelsy Grammer, on Starz.

Personal life

Diann Burns married Marc Watts, a former CNN correspondent, in 1995. The couple is also blessed with a son. Watts and Burns used to be one of Chicago’s highest-paid media couples. However, things did not go well between them and in 2012, the couple decided to separate. Currently, she and her teenage son reside in Chicago’s Lincoln Park.

Charities

Diann Burns has also been involved with various organizations, most notably the Support Group, an organization that helps high school students with home life and schoolwork by providing tutoring and social services, and the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Society of Multiple Sclerosis. Likewise, she has also been involved in the fight against pediatric AIDS.

Net worth

Diann Burns net worth and salary have not been disclosed, but considering her incredible career, she must have earned a considerable amount of net worth.