[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 71 (Friday, April 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF THE EXTRAODINARY CAREER OF ART FRANKLIN, CBS 42 NEWS ANCHOR 
                           IN BIRMINGHAM, AL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 29, 2022

  Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leadership 
and extraordinary accomplishments of Art Franklin, who is stepping down 
from his position as co-lead anchor of the CBS 42 Evening News on April 
29, 2022.
  A native of Detroit, Art is a graduate of the University of Michigan. 
Upon completing his education, he began his broadcasting career at the 
WDZZ-FM 93 radio station in Flint, Michigan, before leaving to join the 
WILX-TV 10, the NBC station in Lansing, Michigan. While at WlLX, Art 
worked as a Capital Reporter and Business Reporter becoming the first 
African American male in Lansing to regularly anchor a broadcast 
newscast.
  Continuing to work within the NBC network, Art transitioned to WAVY-
TV 10 in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as the station's military 
affairs correspondent and anchor of the Bottom Line, the station's 
public service program. In addition to regularly reporting from the 
Pentagon, Art also began covering international assignments traveling 
to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and 
the Caribbean. As a trailblazer in broadcast journalism, Art continued 
to make history upon moving to Birmingham in 1991, becoming 
Birmingham's first primetime African American male anchor during his 12 
years at WBRC-TV. Throughout his career, Art reported on major world 
events such as the conflict in the Persian Gulf, the 9-11 terrorist 
attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, and the terrorist 
attack at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He also transitioned to 
political reporting, covering several United States presidents, 
including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
  Leaving Birmingham in 2003, Art moved to Atlanta joining another NBC 
affiliate, WXIA 11 Alive News, before becoming an anchor at WAGA-TV 
FOX5. Though he left television to start a Public Relations firm, Art's 
passion and dedication to his craft brought him back to Birmingham to 
launch the CBS 42 Morning News with Art Franklin. While at CBS 42, Art 
has served as a managing editor and as anchor of the 4:00 P.M., 5:00 
P.M., 6:00 P.M., and 10:00 P.M. newscast.
  For over three decades, Art has immersed himself in the world of 
journalism, serving in exclusive positions such as the producer of the 
National Association of Black Journalists Awards show, which aired on 
Black Entertainment Television (BET) and guest journalism instructor at 
the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida.
  Diversifying his career outside of journalism, Art has served as the 
C.E.O. of 285 Records, an Atlanta based independent record company; 
background actor for multiple award-winning television shows including 
How to Get Away with Murder and Greys Anatomy. He is also the author of 
the book Give It All You Got and the founder of the Art Franklin 
Collection, a clothing line of male clothing, accessories, and custom 
suits. As a vibrant member of his community, his civic affiliations 
include board member of the Jefferson County Family Resource Center and 
member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
  Art has received over 100 community and journalism awards for his 
exemplary career and contributions to the journalism profession, 
including most notably, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement for 
spotnews coverage in Atlanta in 2005, and most recently an Edward R. 
Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation as anchor of CBS 42's 
Coronavirus House Calls in 2021. Art is also the recipient of the 
Outstanding Achievement Television Programming Excellence Award in 
1995, Scrips Howard Excellence in journalism Award in 1994, RTNDA Best 
Documentary in 1994, and Alabama Associated Press Award for the Best 
Documentary in 1994, and Best Reporter in 1995. Securing his place in 
history as one of the best news anchors of a generation, in 2017, Art 
was named Alabama's Best News Anchor by the Alabama Broadcasting 
Association. In 2019, the National Academy of Television Arts and 
Sciences Silver Circle recognized him for over 25 years in the 
industry.
  On a personal note, Art has always been the consummate professional. 
His mere presence on air has been a source of great inspiration for 
little black boys and girls in Alabama. Art delivers the news with 
clarity and purpose which has made him my ``go-to'' anchor for the 
nightly news. We will miss him on CBS 42, but I know that Art will 
continue to make significant contributions to our community. I 
congratulate Art, and extend best wishes in all of his future 
endeavors.
  On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary career of Art 
Franklin and his exemplary contributions to broadcast journalism.

                          ____________________