Cable News Divas: Our Favorite Female Anchors

Women of color dominating in TV journalism.

Melissa Harris-Perry  - The lack of racial diversity in the news, both in terms of content and the anchors behind the desks, is troubling, so when a woman of color is sidelined in the cutthroat world of journalism, we have to question why. MSNBC host and all-around diva Melissa Harris-Perry called out her network on Friday for "silencing" her and her show, which focuses on African-American politics and current events, in favor of increasingly manic election coverage. In an internal memo leaked to the New York Times, Perry made it clear to staffers that she isn't going to be "used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head."  She also questioned why, as a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton and the University of Chicago, she wasn't invited to contribute to election coverage in the way her...

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Melissa Harris-Perry  - The lack of racial diversity in the news, both in terms of content and the anchors behind the desks, is troubling, so when a woman of color is sidelined in the cutthroat world of journalism, we have to question why. MSNBC host and all-around diva Melissa Harris-Perry called out her network on Friday for "silencing" her and her show, which focuses on African-American politics and current events, in favor of increasingly manic election coverage. In an internal memo leaked to the New York Times, Perry made it clear to staffers that she isn't going to be "used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head."  She also questioned why, as a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton and the University of Chicago, she wasn't invited to contribute to election coverage in the way her...

Sunny Hostin - This CNN legal analyst and political commentator is often called upon to voice her provocative views on the highest-profile criminal cases. The Bronx-born honor student, who is half Puerto Rican, half African-American, is a former US attorney who specialized in child sex crimes. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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Sunny Hostin - This CNN legal analyst and political commentator is often called upon to voice her provocative views on the highest-profile criminal cases. The Bronx-born honor student, who is half Puerto Rican, half African-American, is a former US attorney who specialized in child sex crimes. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Joy Reid - After cutting her teeth in journalism, Reid transitioned to TV as a political pundit on her MSNBC show The Reid Report. The Harvard graduate is still the managing editor of TheGrio.com and pens regular columns for publications around the country. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

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Joy Reid - After cutting her teeth in journalism, Reid transitioned to TV as a political pundit on her MSNBC show The Reid Report. The Harvard graduate is still the managing editor of TheGrio.com and pens regular columns for publications around the country. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

Michaela Periera - The CNN morning show host has a background in tech news reporting, but now covers a variety of topics on New Day. Periera is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and active in the NAACP. The Emmy winner is also extremely active in community work, particularly in children's advocacy. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Michaela Periera - The CNN morning show host has a background in tech news reporting, but now covers a variety of topics on New Day. Periera is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and active in the NAACP. The Emmy winner is also extremely active in community work, particularly in children's advocacy. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Tamron Hall - Besides being on of the most beautiful women in cable news, Hall is also an old school journalist unafraid to dive deep into the issues. As the anchor of MSNBC's NewsNation, Hall has covered everything from the Middle East crisis to the drama in Washington. Hall is also co-host of the 9 a.m. hour of the Today show. (Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Taste of Tennis Week)

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Tamron Hall - Besides being on of the most beautiful women in cable news, Hall is also an old school journalist unafraid to dive deep into the issues. As the anchor of MSNBC's NewsNation, Hall has covered everything from the Middle East crisis to the drama in Washington. Hall is also co-host of the 9 a.m. hour of the Today show. (Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Taste of Tennis Week)

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Jacque Reid - The Atlanta-raised journalist got her start in local news before jumping into the co-anchor slot for CNN's Headline News morning show. She later anchored BET Nightly News from 2001 until 2005. She is now a co-anchor on NBC's local affiliate show New York Live. (Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images for H&M)

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Jacque Reid - The Atlanta-raised journalist got her start in local news before jumping into the co-anchor slot for CNN's Headline News morning show. She later anchored BET Nightly News from 2001 until 2005. She is now a co-anchor on NBC's local affiliate show New York Live. (Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images for H&M)

Photo By Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images for H&M

Zerlina Maxwell - This political analyst and contributor to Essence focuses on women's issues, with an emphasis on domestic violence and sexual assault. Maxwell's strong opinions on the subject sometimes get her in hot water, particularly when it comes to the media's portrayal of rape culture.  (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

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Zerlina Maxwell - This political analyst and contributor to Essence focuses on women's issues, with an emphasis on domestic violence and sexual assault. Maxwell's strong opinions on the subject sometimes get her in hot water, particularly when it comes to the media's portrayal of rape culture.  (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Nischelle Turner - The host of HLN's Showbiz Tonight is an expert on all things sports and celebrity. She recently took over for Rocsi Diaz as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Nischelle Turner - The host of HLN's Showbiz Tonight is an expert on all things sports and celebrity. She recently took over for Rocsi Diaz as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Soledad O'Brien - This Afro-Cuban and Australian-Irish television personality comes from an impressive background. She's one of six siblings who all went to Harvard. She started her national broadcasting career on NBC before moving to CNN, where she hosted American Morning and Starting Point. Recently, O'Brien started her own production company, Starfish Media Group, with an aim of creating documentary-style programming for various news networks. (Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE)

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Soledad O'Brien - This Afro-Cuban and Australian-Irish television personality comes from an impressive background. She's one of six siblings who all went to Harvard. She started her national broadcasting career on NBC before moving to CNN, where she hosted American Morning and Starting Point. Recently, O'Brien started her own production company, Starfish Media Group, with an aim of creating documentary-style programming for various news networks. (Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE)

Karen Finney - The former director of communications for the Democratic National Committee and press secretary for Senator Hillary Clinton had a long stint at MSNBC before becoming a freelance contributor this past fall. Finney is now a part of liberal watchdog group Media Matters. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)

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Karen Finney - The former director of communications for the Democratic National Committee and press secretary for Senator Hillary Clinton had a long stint at MSNBC before becoming a freelance contributor this past fall. Finney is now a part of liberal watchdog group Media Matters. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images