THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Sylvia Chase

February 23, 1938 – January 3, 2019

“I’ve always thought that, as a journalist, I’m really a teacher and I have a great commitment to the importance of truth, honesty, thorough research.”

Broadcast journalist and Emmy Award-winning correspondent. Referred to as “the most trusted woman on TV.” Helped a generation of women infiltrate the boys club of television news, 1970s. Told stories early in the AIDS crisis and equal rights movement. Worked for Democratic legislators and candidates, California, 1960s. CBS News correspondent, 1971 – 1974. Writer and narrator, The American Woman radio show that replaced radio version of advice column Dear Abby. One of the earliest prominent women reporters of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Headed CBS employees’ women’s rights group. General assignment correspondent and co-anchor, ABC News Weekend Report, 1977. Correspondent, original member of the reporting team, ABC’s 20/20, 1978–1985. Bachelor’s degree, English, University of California, Los Angeles, 1961.

Photo. Sylvia Chase, center, in 1983 with fellow correspondents for the ABC News program “20/20.” From left: Bob Brown, Tom Jarriel, Geraldo Rivera and John Stossel. In front of them are the program’s anchors, Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters. Photo: Steve Fenn, ABC.