Marion Brooks Biography
Marion Brooks is a Canadian-American Emmy Award-winning Anchor and Reporter working for WMAQ-TV NBC 5 Chicago in Illinois as an investigative reporter and weekday morning anchor. Prior to joining the station in January 1998, she worked for WSB-TV.
Marion Brooks Age
Brooks was born on April 18, 1963, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She is therefore 60 years old as of 2023 and celebrates her birthday on the 18th of April every year.
Marion Brooks Height
Brooks stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 4 inches.
Marion Brooks Family
Brooks was born to Margret Brooks (mother) and Sam Brooks (father). Her mom is of white ethnicity whereas her dad is of black ethnicity. Brooks grew up in Portland, Oregon, and there is no information regarding whether she has any siblings or not.
Marion Brooks Husband / Children
Brooks is a married woman and her spouse is Ruye Hawkins. They tied the knot in the year 2005. The couple takes great pride in being dad and mom to their 2 daughters, Sydney Hawkins and Brooks Hawkins.
Marion Brooks Net Worth
Brooks has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million and $5 Million which she has earned through her successful career as an Anchor and Reporter.
Marion Brooks Salary
Brooks earns an annual salary ranging from $ 45,000 – $ 110,500.
Marion Brooks Career and Education
Brooks is a proud alumnus of Spelman College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English. She serves at NBC Chicago – WMAQ as an investigative news reporter and weekday morning news anchor. Before joining NBC Chicago, Brooks worked for WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia as a news anchor and reporter for 2 years (1995 – 1997).
Brooks’ career has taken her to different places, working in various regions and market sizes. She started at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, Florida. During her early days, Brooks delved into the advertising aspect of journalism by participating in a management training program for the NY Times Newspaper Group.
Brooks kicked off her broadcasting journey in radio at WGST in Atlanta, Georgia. In this entry-level position, she got a taste of the demanding world of newsgathering—long hours, adrenaline rushes, and hard work. This experience played a crucial role in confirming her passion for journalism. Her TV career began in the Mississippi Delta, and from there, she navigated through different markets nationwide, making stops in Atlanta, Georgia; St. Louis, Missouri; and Jacksonville, Florida, and eventually landing in Chicago, Illinois.
Over the years of her career, she has reported on many significant stories such as courts, natural disasters, crime, consumer issues, politics, the Olympic Games, health, and many more. Away from work, Brooks is actively involved in NABJ – the National Association of Black Journalists.
Marion Brooks Awards and Honors
Brooks has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the prestigious National Emmy Award and the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Midwest Chapter Emmy Award. He’s also been recognized by the Chicago Association of Black Journalists, Alliance for Women in Media (Gracie), Associated Press, Radio Television Digital News Association (Edward R. Murrow Award, Region 7), and the Illinois Broadcasters Association. Additionally, Brooks has earned accolades from the National Mental Health Association and the Illinois Mental Health Association. Her remarkable contributions were further acknowledged with the National Vernon Jarrett Award in the year 2005 by the Institute of Advanced Journalism Studies at North Carolina A&T State University.
Marion Brooks NBC 5 Chicago – WMAQ-TV
Brooks works as a weekday morning news anchor and investigative news reporter at NBC Chicago – WMAQ. As an anchor, she appears on the 11 AM and 4 PM newscasts, from Monday through Friday. In addition to her roles, she has been co-hosting the WMAQ production of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon since the year 2017.
Brooks loves telling stories, especially about important things like fairness and crime. When she digs into investigations, she focuses on issues of criminal and social justice. This passion led her to work on the documentary, “The Lost Story of Emmett Till: The Universal Child,” where she updated and added more details to Emmett Till’s story.
After the racial unrest following George Floyd’s murder, Brooks took the lead in NBC 5 Chicago’s “Race In Chicago” initiatives. This comprehensive project involved a digital series, “Say the Word, Say the Name”, featuring personal stories about racism experiences and a reading of names of people who passed away in racially motivated killings. The initiative also included TV stories as part of the “Race in Chicago” TV special(s). For her efforts, the National Alliance for Women in Media (Gracie) recognized her and her co-producers.
Brooks’s coverage of “Sex Trafficking in Chicago” won her a number of honors such as a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and a national Gracie Award, from RTDNA – the Radio Television and Digital News Association. Brooks’s focus on investigating issues related to sexual violence paved the way for NBCChicago.com’s “Survivor’s Project”. This initiative showcased courageous survivors of sexual violence, sharing not only their stories but also highlighting their resilience and strength in taking control of their narratives. The project received accolades, earning recognition from the RTDNA with the Illinois Broadcasters Association’s Silver Dome Award and a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
Brooks is working at WMAQ-TV where she works alongside other famous WMAQ-TV meteorologists, anchors, and reporters including;
- Mike Berman
- Jeff Blanzy
- Evrod Cassimy
- Kate Chappell
- Lisa Chavarria
- Jen DeSalvo
- Steve Dolinsky
- Christian Farr
- Patrick Fazio
Marion Brooks Website
Brooks has a website, where she updates her portfolio. To view the website, click HERE.
Marion Brooks Social Media Platforms
She is active on her social media accounts and is often seen posting on her Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. She has over 2.9K followers on Instagram.
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