WJLA Bids Farewell to Maureen Bunyan

Maureen Bunyan, anchor at Sinclair ABC affiliate WJLA Washington (DMA 7), left the station Tuesday after 17 years. A respected leader in the newsroom, and fervent advocate for women and minorities in journalism, Bunyan co-anchored WJLA ABC7 News at 6 pm.

“Maureen has been a trusted voice for progress in our community, and within our ranks,” said ABC7 Director of News Mitch Jacob. “She is a journalist and advocate of the highest order, and we will miss her insight and passion tremendously.”

Though Bunyan worked briefly for MSNBC, and also ran a local public relations firm prior to arriving at WJLA in 1999, her first job in Washington was at CBS affiliate WUSA (previously WTOP), where she served as a reporter and anchor for 22 years.  Before that she worked at WCBS New York and WGBH Boston.

Bunyan is a founder and board member of the International Women’s Media Foundation and a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists. She has been honored with numerous professional and community service awards including being named Washingtonian of the Year in 1992, being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, The Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Broadcast Pioneers Club of Washington.

The National Association of Black Journalists inducted her into their Hall of Fame in 2014, the same year she was knighted and inducted into The Order of Orange-Nassau, a prestigious Dutch order of chivalry.

Bunyan attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as well as Columbia University School of Journalism. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She was born in Aruba, and grew up in Wisconsin.