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A Talk with Legendary Journalist Bob Ray Sanders

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Bob Ray Sanders retired associate editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Sanders worked many years at the Dallas/Fort Worth PBS and NPR affiliate KERA-TV/KERA-FM, where he served as reporter, producer, station manager, and vice president.

Few African American journalists in North Texas have had the career that Bob Ray Sanders has had. The popular columnist for the Fort Worth Star Telegram career has spanned over four decades, and three media.

A 1969 graduate of North Texas State University. Sanders began his professional career one day after graduation with the Star-Telegram. As a young journalist with the paper, he served as courthouse reporter and political writer before leaving to begin a distinguished career in broadcasting.

In 1972, he joined KERA-TV, as a reporter for the station's innovative Newsroom program. He later served as vice president of KERA-TV and host and producer of the station's award-winning program, News Addition. Sanders also was executive producer of the highly acclaimed PBS series, With Ossie & Ruby, starring Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. Sanders is the youngest of 11 children. He knew at a young age he wanted to be a writer.

Sanders has received some of journalism's most prestigious awards, including a regional Emmy Award, a National Association of Black Journalists award, and a National Headliner Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting.

John L. Hanson is the producer and host of the nationally syndicated radio series In Black America. It’s heard on home station KUT at 10 p.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 a.m. Sundays — and weekly on close to 20 stations across the country. The weekly podcast of IBA, the only nationally broadcast Black-oriented public affairs radio program, is one of KUT’s most popular podcasts.