Cierra Richardson earned her first Emmy Award earlier this year — a full‑circle moment for the Jacksonville, Florida, native. She was recognized by the NATAS Suncoast Chapter Emmy Awards for executive producing her first special, WJXT News4JAX’s “Tracing the Roots: The Story of Juneteenth,” which shared powerful stories connecting Jacksonville’s legacy to the state’s path and role in the emancipation of enslaved people.
“WJXT is a station I grew up watching as a kid. I even have photos of me at the news desk with the anchors of that time. So, when the opportunity came up to produce our Juneteenth special, something my news director asked me to take the lead in, that was a huge honor,” she said. “And that moment also speaks to why I think it’s important to have people who look like us in these rooms — to be able to provide that voice.”
Her award, which demonstrated excellence in “historical or cultural long form content,” not only marked a career milestone as a former college intern at the station in 2018, but also reflects her passion for digging deep to uncover information that inspires, unites and empowers citizens.
“I enjoy telling these local stories, knowing that people trust us to be able to deliver the best content, whether turning their TV on or viewing the news on an app,” Richardson said, noting that what gave her the most gratification from her Emmy‑winning achievement was not the recognition, but “knowing people learned something from it.”
“That is so incredible,” she said. “People were able to see what history looks like in their own backyard. They could see the truth of what happened right where they live. There’s still power in that.”
After earning a degree in broadcast journalism from FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) in 2019, she launched her producing career at WPDE ABC 15/WTGS FOX 28, where she produced news for communities in South Carolina and Georgia. As her career advanced, she landed at WPBF 25 News in West Palm Beach, where she produced the station’s No.1‑rated 6 p.m. newscast. Selected as a 2023 Hearst Television Producer Academy participant, Richardson quickly rose as a sought‑after producer.
Her early childhood dream of being a local journalist began to unfold as a student who told impactful stories for FAMU TV‑20 about how organizations and citizens provided relief to one another in the wake of Hurricane Michael, earning a 2018 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters Award. She also received the Nefertiti Williams “Student Journalist of the Year” Award for her storytelling that enriched the community through her student media leadership.
She served as news director at WANM‑FM 90.5; associate producer and MMJ at FAMU TV‑20; online editor and staff reporter at The FAMUAN; and correspondent for FAMU Now! on SiriusXM Channel 142. She was also named an Emma Bowen Foundation Fellow, which places promising students in multi‑year paid internships.
Cierra Richardson began writing, reporting, and producing award-winning content while still a student at FAMU SJGC, including recognition from the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters.
“I owe a lot of credit to J‑School,” she said. “I was able to utilize the same skills I learned at FAMU SJGC to excel in real‑world jobs. Whether it was radio, TV, or an online presence, news directors saw me as a great fit because of my training.”
Richardson’s commitment to telling stories with the excellence instilled in her as a student is rooted in her belief that empowering the community with information should guide a journalist’s work. She says that as the news industry evolves, she hopes journalists will remember that working in local news is an “opportunity to be a voice” and to pay it forward.
“We owe a lot to the communities we come from and live in. And as long as we go out into these communities and tell their stories, that’s where the trust lies and where people can find value in local news,” Richardson said.
About Local News Day
Local News Day is a national day of action connecting communities with trusted local news. Our mission is simple: reconnect people to trusted local journalists and their outlets, empower newsrooms and their storytellers to grow, and spark a national movement that sustains local news for generations. Learn more at https://localnewsday.org. Follow and engage with more stories on social media using #LocalNewsDay #SJGCisLocal.
