The Art of Communication
Geraldine Zialcita
As a previous liaison between the newsroom and viewers, Carolyn Tyler painted a vivid picture of every compelling story waiting to be told. She bridged the communication gap to provide empirical information with a purpose.
Born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Carolyn’s fond memories include growing up with a lot of siblings. She spent thirty-two years live on the camera as a news anchor/TV reporter for ABC7 news. Although Carolyn never anticipated or foresaw this would be her career path, the universe already designated a plan for her. “I realized I could become a journalist after I saw my first Black female news anchor―Reynelda Muse on a Denver television station. After meeting her, I shifted my college major from Education to Journalism,” she shares.
During her extensive career, Carolyn gained the opportunity to meet and interview people from all sectors which enabled her to learn something new daily. Adhering to the guiding principles of journalism, Carolyn knew her boundaries and remained objective at all causes. “I was trained to put aside personal feelings to drill down for the truth, to push for accuracy. Part of the joy of reporting was interviewing people from all walks of life, political leanings, socio-economic backgrounds in a search for fairness and accuracy,” she relays.
Being a Black woman entailed all the obstacles, stereotypes, and misperceptions, yet, these adversities never stopped Carolyn from fulfilling her dream, excelling in her career, and being true to herself. Carolyn has won various awards which include, the Career Achievement Award from the National Society of Professional Journalists, the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Peabody and Edward R. Murrow awards as part of the ABC7 team coverage of the Loma Prieta Earthquake.
Known for her benevolence and rectitude, Carolyn featured an extensive scope of stories. Carolyn delivered stories equipped with grace under pressure, She has also interviewed noteworthy people like Governor Gavin Newsom, Oprah Winfrey, and Willy Mays. Being a reliable resource, Carolyn covered the arduous battle of achieving marriage equality in California. Her reporting on the issue covered the steps from the first day of same-sex marriages at San Francisco City Hall, to traveling to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear and report on the oral arguments. As part of her reverence and respect for the Civil Rights Movement, Carolyn embarked on a journey along the Civil Rights Trail in the South with Bay Area high school students and produced an Emmy-nominated series. This experience enabled her to meet the leaders and see the monuments where history reigned.
After three decades of being in the limelight, Carolyn has left an unwavering statement with her viewers. Carolyn will always value the knowledge, skills, and experience she has grasped during her stint. “I heard throughout my career and continuing to this day, how much my presence on television meant, especially to the Black community. Just to have someone who looks like you, in a position like that, can provide a significant impact. I learned that representation matters. If you see it, you can be it!” She smiles.
As a retired TV journalist, Carolyn spends her days in a more relaxed setting, fulfilling the things she loves best spending time with family and friends. This versatile woman enjoys sports, music, and the arts. “I’m a longtime Warriors fan and even got to ride in their Victory Parade when they won the NBA Championship a few years ago. I also love music and am a member of SF Jazz. I enjoy art and am a member of the Museum of the African Diaspora. I’m also on the Board of Alonzo King Lines Ballet, one of the only ballet companies founded and led by a Black man,” she conveys.
Carolyn also supports various charitable organizations that resonate with her. “One of my proudest accomplishments was co-founding Friends of Faith Fancher along with other primarily Black women in the media. We named it after our colleague, Faith Fancher at KTVU who was diagnosed with breast cancer. We raised funds to support non-profits serving low-income patients. Faith may have lost her battle but we continued for twenty years. The fund is currently operated by the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency Center.” she informs.
Carolyn learned about the Juneteenth celebrations through her parents who are from the South. Juneteenth pays tribute to the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. “When I moved to Austin, Texas to work for a TV station, this is when I really got to enjoy and understand the importance of the Juneteenth celebration. During that time, Juneteenth was acknowledged through gatherings, parades, and other celebrations within the black community. Now that it has been designated a federal holiday it brings another chapter of our history to the forefront of American history,” she states.
Juneteenth serves to be a fundamental occasion for African American history. “The civil unrest of the 60s led to the Kerner Commission, established by President Johnson to investigate the causes and recommend solutions. One aspect of the Kerner report addressed the television industry, how African Americans were presented, and the lack of positive representation. That led to doors opening for the 1st generation of Black role models like Max Robinson, Bernard Shaw, and here on the local level, Belva Davis. The success of that first wave opened doors for me and others to follow,” she explains.
In recognition of her heritage and to support Black and African Art, Carolyn is the proud owner of Elizabeth Catlett, Richard Mayhew, Kehinde Wiley, Stephen Bruce, Joe Sam, and Synthia Saint James artworks known to express creativity and beauty.
Carolyn was recently appointed by Mayor London Breed to the San Francisco Film Commission. The San Francisco Film Commission’s objective is to attract and promote the production of films, television shows, commercials, videos, etc. in San Francisco. “Each time you see our beautiful city as a backdrop in film projects, this indicates that the Film Commission played an essential role in the project. I’m honored and excited to serve the city I live in and have called home for more than three decades,” she imparts.
As Carolyn forges ahead in this new chapter of her life, she carries the values of integrity, honesty, loyalty, gratitude, justice, perseverance, and love of self, family, friends, and the community. She concludes this story with a grain of wisdom for those who aspire to follow the same career path as hers. In the words of a favorite Negro spiritual, “Don’t Let Nobody Turn you around.”
Through the art of communication, Carolyn Tyler enlightened, inspired, and developed a profound connection with her peers, the viewers, and the community.
CAROLYN TYLER
HMUA (Cover Shoot): BRENDA HAMBERRY-GREEN
HMUA (Solo Shoot): NELLIE MUGANDA @nellie_muganda
Writer: GERALDINE ZIALCITA @gerladineauthor
Art Director: NIGEL JOHN DEL MUNDO @nigeldelmundo
Photographer: VINCENT GOTTI @vinniegotti
Clothing: MIO of San Francisco