Erika Celeste is an American journalist who has worked in radio, print, and television since 1992. She has won two Emmys,
Telly
and several AP Awards. She has worked for several news network affiliates including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and PBS. She has also freelanced for many national and international organizations including

Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...

, Public Radio International and

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...

. She has written several documentaries includin
Red Salt and Reynolds
Just Like Anyone, and the forthcoming Secrets of the Valley (fall 2010) narrated by Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me fame.

Early years

Celeste is of Polish, French, Irish, Italian and German descent. She spent most of her early childhood in

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

. Her father, Wayne Brass, is a retire
UCC
pastor, and her mother, Renee Brass, is a retired nurse. In August 1979 the family was involved in a serious car accident which took the life of her younger sister, Celeste. This prompted Erika Celeste to take her sister's name as a tribute, first professionally and later legally. Later Celeste attended

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...

, then transferred to University of Indianapolis, and graduated from Indiana State University with a focus in Theater and Communications and Anthropology.

Personal life

Erika Celeste was married to Michael Hobbs in 1992. They had 2 sons Cameren and Kaleb before divorcing in 1999. Celeste remarried to Michael Marturello, the editor of th
Herald Republican

Sources

* https://haventmetforever.com * https://tobehonestinc.com * https://muckrack.com/erika-celeste/articles * http://www.ecnewmoon.com * http://www.voanews.com * https://www.npr.org * http://www.authorhouse.com/bookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=60866 {{DEFAULTSORT:Celeste, Erika American women journalists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Western Michigan University alumni University of Indianapolis alumni Indiana State University alumni 21st-century American women