Julia Scott Reed
Encyclopedia
Journalist Julia Scott Reed (July 17, 1917- October 19, 2004) wrote, for many years, a weekly column for the Dallas Morning News, edited the African-American "Dallas Express," and worked in radio broadcasting before she retired in 1979.
She was born and raised in Dallas, Texas
by her parents, Nina and Johnnie McGee. As a Booker T. Washington High School
graduate, she attended Wiley College
for two years, and went on to graduate from Phillip’s Business School, where she accumulated her journalism skills. She started her career as the Texas correspondent for the Kansas City Call. In 1951, she joined the black newspaper Dallas Express
, where she used her own camera to take pictures for her articles. Among the historical topics covered, after experiencing it for herself, were the early years of desegregation
in schools and in public transportation. She became the editor of the Dallas Express. Thereafter, she serviced KNOK Radio for eight years, covering the segment “News and Views.” In 1967, she was the first black woman to report for The Dallas Morning News
.
Mrs. Reed ‘s column in the Dallas Morning News, “The Open Line,” contained important content that would have gone unnoticed in mass media. She emphasized achievements of the black community, and exposed injustices toward blacks, such as bus
ing and segregation
.:Among the diversity of topics brought to light by Mrs. Reed were medical breakthroughs by black doctors, the need of donated blood in Dallas, disease of alcoholism
everywhere, the abundance of black infants and children in need of foster and adoptive homes, ebony fashion, encouragement to the black youth to enter nursing fields, and like stories in many industries. Her column brought on a flood of appreciation letters, by both her readers and her subjects.
Julia Scott Reed acquired many appreciation awards for valued services and prestigious awards through her intensive community service and commitment to her career. She received numerous of congratulatory letters from a range of people from the national and Texas House of Representatives
to personnel of hotels she visited. To name a few: Woman of the Year honored by Iota Phi Lambda
Psi Chapter 1970-71, Joseph B. Lockridge Award of Excellence, Extra Mile Award, Maura Award, honored by The Media Task Force of Women for Change, Inc., and commissioned assistant to the governor on April 28, 1973. Dallas Mayor Robert Folsom, proclaimed March 18, 1979 as “Julia Scott Reed Day” in the city.
She was born and raised in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
by her parents, Nina and Johnnie McGee. As a Booker T. Washington High School
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is a public secondary school located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas . Booker T. Washington High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is the Dallas Independent School District's arts magnet school...
graduate, she attended Wiley College
Wiley College
Wiley College is a four-year, private, historically black, liberal arts college located on the west side of Marshall, Texas. Founded in 1873 by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Bishop Isaac Wiley and certified in 1882 by the Freedman's Aid Society, it is notable as one of the oldest predominantly...
for two years, and went on to graduate from Phillip’s Business School, where she accumulated her journalism skills. She started her career as the Texas correspondent for the Kansas City Call. In 1951, she joined the black newspaper Dallas Express
Dallas Express
The Dallas Express was a weekly newspaper published in Dallas, Texas from 1892 to 1970. It covered news of blacks in Dallas and a large portion of Texas...
, where she used her own camera to take pictures for her articles. Among the historical topics covered, after experiencing it for herself, were the early years of desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
in schools and in public transportation. She became the editor of the Dallas Express. Thereafter, she serviced KNOK Radio for eight years, covering the segment “News and Views.” In 1967, she was the first black woman to report for The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
.
Mrs. Reed ‘s column in the Dallas Morning News, “The Open Line,” contained important content that would have gone unnoticed in mass media. She emphasized achievements of the black community, and exposed injustices toward blacks, such as bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
ing and segregation
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
.:Among the diversity of topics brought to light by Mrs. Reed were medical breakthroughs by black doctors, the need of donated blood in Dallas, disease of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
everywhere, the abundance of black infants and children in need of foster and adoptive homes, ebony fashion, encouragement to the black youth to enter nursing fields, and like stories in many industries. Her column brought on a flood of appreciation letters, by both her readers and her subjects.
Julia Scott Reed acquired many appreciation awards for valued services and prestigious awards through her intensive community service and commitment to her career. She received numerous of congratulatory letters from a range of people from the national and Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
to personnel of hotels she visited. To name a few: Woman of the Year honored by Iota Phi Lambda
Iota Phi Lambda
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc. is the first African American Greek-lettered business sorority established by African American business women. There are now more than 100 chapters with membership numbering more than 5,000 in 85 cities and the US Virgin Islands...
Psi Chapter 1970-71, Joseph B. Lockridge Award of Excellence, Extra Mile Award, Maura Award, honored by The Media Task Force of Women for Change, Inc., and commissioned assistant to the governor on April 28, 1973. Dallas Mayor Robert Folsom, proclaimed March 18, 1979 as “Julia Scott Reed Day” in the city.