Brandi Hitt, a news anchor and reporter at KABC in Los Angeles, is the recipient of the 2018 Jim Tucker Media Service Award presented by Fresno State’s Department of Media, Communications and Journalism for her journalistic and communications accomplishments.
The award was established in 2004 by the department in tribute to Tucker’s longtime service as a professor and department chair. The award honors a media professional in or from the San Joaquin Valley who has performed with distinction over several years.
Hitt will be announced as the recipient during the department’s MCJ Celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Satellite Student Union on campus. Attendees can also snap a photo with Fresno State’s live mascot, Victor E. Bulldog III from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
Hitt, the morning news anchor at KABC, wakes up at 2 a.m. every weekday to help write, report and anchor the daily news. She is originally from Lodi and studied journalism at Fresno State.
“She works hard to ensure clarity, the truth and fairness in her stories. Her determination to her craft and getting all the facts is akin to the Bulldog spirit here at Fresno State,” said her former colleague and current KMPH co-anchor Kim Stephens. “Brandi truly is the standard bearer for news professionals.”
Hitt left Fresno for KOVR in Sacramento to launch and anchor a newscast — a position that sent her to cover the war in Afghanistan. She then moved south to KTLA in Los Angeles as a reporter and anchor. After two years there, she became a national correspondent for ABC Network News. Her work was featured on World News, Good Morning America and Nightline.
After having a daughter with her husband and fellow Fresno State graduate Christopher Allen Poe, she opted for a position as morning anchor and reporter for KABC morning news.
While Hitt’s work earned her three Emmys, three Murrow awards, a Golden Mic and a Peabody, she said it’s family and the daily goal of sharing important, compelling stories that drives her.
Last year, the Tucker Award was presented to Shirley Armbruster, former associate vice president for University Communications at Fresno State. Previous winners include Robert Gauthier of the Los Angeles Times; Bruce Batti, president of Jeffrey Scott Agency, Inc.; Ray Steele, former publisher of The Fresno Bee; Jim Boren, former Fresno Bee editorial page editor; and Stefani Booroojian, a KSEE 24 news anchor.
Tucker retired in 2007 after 39 years as a journalism professor at Fresno State. He was department chair for 12 of those years.
For more information, call 559.278.2087.
