Melba Tolliver was the first Black American to anchor network news (1967). For nearly three decades she reported and anchored for WABC-TV, Eyewitness News, WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Food Channel. She also wrote for USA Today, Good Housekeeping, Black Sports, and other magazines and newspapers.

When Ms. Tolliver wore her hair in an afro while covering the White House wedding of Tricia Nixon, she was retaliated against by the WABC bosses.