Allison Payne was a nine-time Emmy Award winner, a 21-year anchorwoman with WGN-TV, a veteran international journalist, a popular public speaker, and an actively involved community builder. She was a longtime anchor and reporter at CW affiliate and cable superstation WGN-TV in Chicago, Illinois. Payne served as co-anchor of the WGN Midday News from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Payne also launched Payne Productions, Incorporated, a television production company that served to help students interested in the broadcasting business. Payne remained active in broadcasting via freelance work until her death.
‘She was proud of excellence’; Allison Payne, a former WGN anchor, died at the age of 57.
Allison Payne, a nine-time Emmy Award winner who was the face of WGN-TV for two decades and inspired a generation of Black female journalists, died on September 1 in Detroit, according to the television station. She was 57 years old at the time.
Payne moved to Chicago in 1990 after being employed by WGN at the age of 25. In a WGN video tribute, meteorologist Tom Skilling praised Allison as “young, energetic, and intelligent.” “When you saw Alison, you thought, ‘Here’s a young journalist with the world in front of her, and all you could do was wonder where that wonderful career would take her.’
Payne became a reporting powerhouse for WGN, covering everything from politics to sports. Her stories took her all around the world.
Payne was known for being generous with her time and resources. Allison once footed the bill for her producer to join her in Washington, D.C., for a story when the station declined to fund her trip.
Payne also would routinely buy gifts for her colleagues. Vicky Baftiri, one of Payne’s longtime producers, said she still has some of the Tory Burch purses, wallets, and jewelry Payne gave her. She also said Payne paid for a makeup artist to beautify Baftiri on her wedding day and baby shower.
“She just wanted to show her gratitude, not just by words but by gifts as well,” Baftiri said.
Payne played an influential part in many Chicago reporters and producers’ careers. Her door was always open to aspiring, young journalists, who looked to her for advice. She routinely would review scripts and offer feedback in a way “no other anchor did,” Baftiri said.
The daughter of an educator, Payne loved sharing her wealth of knowledge so much so that she looked into becoming a journalism professor at a community college in Detroit after she left Chicago. Payne also started a foundation for students looking to enter journalism.
“She loved fearlessly, she mentored not just me but countless interns,” Baftiri said. “She was so instrumental in my career.”
Skilling, who worked alongside Payne during her 21 years at the station, said Payne was a delight.
“She was a kind human being, so sweet,” he said. Other tributes flooding social media shared Skilling’s sentiment.
Tyra Martin, a senior segment producer at WGN, described Payne as “hilarious, sometimes on purpose and sometimes by accident.
“She was not fair-weather or lukewarm about anything. She was proud of excellence… hers, yours and anyone else’s,” Martin wrote. “And she made those around her want to be the same. She’s the kind of person you didn’t want to let down.”
Reflecting on 20 years at WGN, Payne told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2010: “I hope my work as an anchor has inspired at least one young girl watching me go after her dreams.”
That’s just what she did for TV host Shaun Robinson.
“Allison Payne was one of my early career role models,” Robinson tweeted. “I remember watching her when I was an aspiring journalist and being so proud that she was from my hometown Detroit. She inspired so many young black girls because we could see ourselves in her.”
Allison Payne Age, Date of Birth, Birthday, Family, what about her father, mother, where is she from? Early life
Allison Payne was born on February 12, 1964, in Richmond, Virginia, United States. She died on September 1, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan. She was 57 years old. Her nationality is American and her ethnicity is mixed. She belongs to the Aquarius zodiac sign.
Payne was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Dana and Kathryn Payne. There is no information about her siblings but we will update soon.
Allison Payne Husband, what about her children?
Allison Payne was married to her husband Bobby Richardson in 2004. Unfortunately, not much is known about how their relationship started and where their wedding ceremony was held.
It is also not known whether the couple has any children together or not. Previously, she was married to her ex-husband, Don Riggs.
Allison Payne Net worth, how much does she earn?
Allison’s net worth is estimated to be in millions of dollars, due to her career. Looking at her success, we could say that she is definitely a rich woman now, with a huge amount of fortune. Her exact net worth might take some time to be out in the online media.
It seems that he has earned enough money from his career, he was undoubtedly making a sizable wage and amassing a sizable net worth. Furthermore, his career was his primary source of revenue.
Which school and college did she go to? What was her major?
When she was five, her parents moved north to Detroit, Michigan, where Payne attended St. Rita’s Catholic grade school. She was a graduate of Renaissance High School in Detroit and held a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Detroit Mercy.
Payne attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio for her master’s degree in radio/TV/film. Payne was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Allison Payne Career, What is her profession?
Payne began in television news as an intern at NBC affiliate WNWO (channel 24) in Toledo, Ohio, within months was promoted to the main anchor of the station’s late evening newscast. Payne later moved to NBC affiliate WNEM-TV (channel 5, now a CBS affiliate) in Saginaw, Michigan, as the co-anchor of the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.
She moved to Chicago in 1990 to anchor the station’s primetime 9 p.m. newscast, which she anchored until 2009. From 1993 to 2008 in the evening and since 2009 at midday, Payne was paired alongside Steve Sanders at the anchor desk.
Payne traveled to Kenya to trace Barack Obama’s roots, and to the Middle East to cover the Reverend Jesse Jackson’s peace negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.
During her tenure with WGN, Payne has won numerous awards including nine Emmys for reporting, including:
Outstanding Achievement within a Regularly Scheduled News Program – Specialty Report/Series — Politics/Government: Jackson & Jackson: Allison Payne, Reporter; Pam Grimes, Producer. WGN
Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence On Camera: Programming – Program — Host/Moderator/Contributor: Allison Payne – People to People. WGN
Outstanding Achievement within a Regularly Scheduled News Program – Specialty Report: — Religion: Blue Eyes, Black Soul: Allison Payne, Reporter; Pam Grimes, Michael D’Angelo, Producers. WGN
Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Public Affairs/Current Affairs: People to People: Gloria Brown, Producer; Allison Payne, Steve Sanders, Hosts. WGN
Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence On Camera: News – Reporter: Allison Payne – Composite. WGN
On August 2, 2011, Payne and WGN-TV station management agreed to a buyout of Payne’s current contract, ending her 21-year relationship with the station; she left WGN-TV in September 2011.
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Regarding her future after WGN, The Chicago Sun-Times reported: “I hope to continue working in broadcasting in some capacity and will consider other professional opportunities,” Payne said. “I also fully intend to continue my work in the community here.” On her blog on August 4, 2011, Payne added: “Down the road, I plan to begin producing my own documentaries.
I also plan to produce occasional reports which I will share with you on this website, I am not ruling out a return to the anchor desk, but for now, I need new intellectual challenges. I’m open to applying my communication skills to the business world as well.”
Health issues and death
In January and August 2008, Payne went on medical leave after suffering from a series of mini-strokes. In November 2008 WGN-TV announced that Payne would take an indefinite leave of absence because of ongoing health issues. Payne admitted in an interview with Chicago Tribune media columnist Phil Rosenthal that she sought treatment for depression during her absence months earlier.
In January 2010, Payne publicly acknowledged that she was a recovering alcoholic, after having previously battled alcoholism for 20 years. “Substance abuse can become a problem,” she said at the time. “I wanted to make sure that nothing in my life got out of hand.”
Is Allison Payne available on any kind of social media platform?
We looked for her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms but we were only able to locate her on Twitter.
She was available on Twitter with the username “@Allison Payne” with 383 followers.
Allison Payne FAQ’s
Allison Payne was a nine-time Emmy Award winner, a 21-year anchorwoman with WGN-TV, a veteran international journalist, a popular public speaker, and an actively involved community builder. She was a longtime anchor and reporter at CW affiliate and cable superstation WGN-TV in Chicago, Illinois. Payne served as co-anchor of the WGN Midday News from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
She was born on February 12, 1964, in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Allison Payne died on September 1, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan. She was 57 years old. Her nationality is American and her ethnicity is mixed. She belongs to the Aquarius zodiac sign.
When she was five, her parents moved north to Detroit, Michigan, where Payne attended St. Rita’s Catholic grade school. She was a graduate of Renaissance High School in Detroit and held a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Detroit Mercy. Payne attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio for her master’s degree in radio/TV/film. Payne was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
We looked for her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms but we were only able to locate her on Twitter. She was available on Twitter with the username “@Allison Payne” with 383 followers.
WGN first confirmed her death. The channel’s Entertainment reporter Dean Richards also took to social media to announce Payne’s death with a heartfelt tweet. Her death has shocked many, and Twitter and Instagram users have been mourning the loss.
Allison Payne’s Body Appearance Height, Weight
| Height | Unknown |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Body Shape | Fit |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Sexuality | Straight |
Interesting facts about Allison Payne’s which you should be known about
| Full name | Allison Payne |
| Age( as of 2021) | 57 years |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Profession | Journalist |
| Nationality | American |
