The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns



Overview of the Item

Repository: The HistoryMakers
1900 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 674-1900
info@thehistorymakers.com
http://www.thehistorymakers.com
Interviewer: Julieanna Richardson
Videographer: Scott Stearns
Title:Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns
Dates:May 23, 2001
Abstract: (ABSTRACT)
Quantity: 4 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
Identification: A2001.006
Language: The interviews and records are in English

Biographical Note

Diann Burns was born September 29, 1958, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of a Methodist preacher. Surrounded by extended family for most of her childhood, she recalls the support and generosity she received growing up. Her immediate family relocated several times when she was a child, briefly living in Pittsburgh and then Cincinnati before returning to Cleveland, where Burns remained through college and young adulthood. Burns took an interest in theater and acted during her high school and college years. After pursuing a career on stage, she turned to journalism.

Burns graduated from Columbia University's prestigious Graduate School of Journalism, and worked as a general assignment reporter at the Cleveland Plain Dealer . She then became a sports editor, photographer and reporter at the black-owned Cleveland Call and Post and later entered broadcasting with the Independent Network News of New York. In 1994, Burns was named co-anchor of the 10 p.m. news at Chicago ABC affiliate WLS-7, becoming the first African American woman to occupy such a position.

Burns is committed to numerous charitable organizations, most notably the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Support Group, an organization that assists high school students with school work and home life by providing tutorial and social services. She is also involved in the fight against pediatric AIDS.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®

Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Diann Burns was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2001-05-23 in The HistoryMakers, 1900 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois and is recorded on 4 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Diann Burns's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.

Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
Contributors:
Burns, Diann
Richardson, Julieanna
Stearns, Scott
Persons:
(PERSONS)
Corporate Bodies:
(CORPORATE BODIES)
Family Names:
Burns
Places:
(PLACES)
Subjects:
(SUBJECTS)
Document Types:
Video oral history interview
Titles:
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns

Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.

Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns, May 23, 2001. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.

Detailed Description/Tape Listings

Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns, Tape 1, May 23, 2001, TRT: 00:29:12:10.

Diann Burns recalls her mother's origins and details her family's migration from southern Georgia to Ohio. She then talks about her father's family history, his migration from Mississippi to Ohio, and the family's religious roots. She then talks about her three siblings. Burns later recalls her earliest memories as a child, including the feelings she felt upon learning of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She then describes the tight-knit community where she grew up in Ohio. Burns then details what it was like growing up as the daughter of a minister and the limits it placed on her social life. Burns describes her personality, and details the conflict it caused going against her father's authoritarian ways. Lastly, she talks about college, her first full-time job and the unexpected death of her sister.


Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns, Tape 2, May 23, 2001, TRT: 00:30:26:06.

Diann Burns talks about her childhood personality and her early desire to learn to read. She then recalls her first childhood play and her aspirations to be in the theater. She then details her audition and first acting roles as a member of the Karamu House troupe. Diann Burns recalls her father's desire for her to attend college in the South, and her decision to go against her father's wishes. She then talks about her transfer from Cleveland State University to Columbia University in New York to study journalism and to escape the memory of her sister's death. Burns recalls her experiences at Columbia and her first television assignment working behind the scenes for WPIX-TV in Manhattan. She then talks about the work environment, racial bias and the financial stresses at the TV station that influenced her decision to return to Ohio. Diann Burns then talks about her more positive work experiences she encountered at WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio, and finally talks about the black women she feels are her role models.


Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns, Tape 3, May 23, 2001, TRT: 00:29:29:08.

Diann Burns talks about how she went about getting her audition tape seen by the General Manager at WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio. She then talks about how she was groomed for the position of television news anchor and recalls how she got called to interview in Chicago. Burns then discusses the casual work environment at the Columbus television station. Diann Burns shares her advice to blacks trying to enter the television broadcasting industry and then discusses how she succeeded at WLS-TV in Chicago. She then details the series of events that led to her earning the prime news anchor spots at WLS-TV. Burns talks about her experiences at WLS-TV and reflects on the culture of racism and sexism she encountered when her salary was revealed in the press. She then gives her personal philosophy on the necessity of a good education in order to succeed in life. Lastly, Burns details her research skills in relation to her personal life and how she succeeded in getting married after establishing her career.


Video Oral History Interview with Diann Burns, Tape 4, May 23, 2001, TRT: 00:27:01:24.

Diann Burns talks about how she views her career and how her parents feel about her success. Burns then talks about what her legacy might be and shares a story about how she became a mentor to a girl wanting to become a television journalist. Lastly, Diann Burns describes photos of her family, friends and work colleagues.