Sheila Fortson

Sheila Fortson (born August 22, 1983 in Philadelphia, PA) is an American television journalist, radio host, and writer. Fortson currently works as an Entertainment and Community Affairs reporter for The Lehigh Valley's Service Electric Cable TV 2 News, located in Bethlehem, PA. Fortson is also the principal host of a popular radio show for women "The Ladies Room with Sheila & Shay", on WIFI 1460 AM in Burlington, NJ.

Biography

Early Life & Education

Fortson was born in West Philadelphia. She graduated from Temple University's school of Journalism, which is noted as a top Journalism school in the country.

Career

While working at her University's student-run station, Temple Update as a student producer, Fortson was mentored by former WTXF-TV Fox 29 Philadelphia anchor Tracey Matisak, who convinced her to work in front of the camera. Fortson often credits Tracey as being her inspiration, and being the first African American woman she remembers seeing on television as a child. After finishing at Temple, Fortson held a number of odd jobs, including one as a retail store manager, in addition to working as a post-grad intern at Blue Ridge Cable TV 13, in Lehighton, PA. Following her internship at TV 13, Sheila was hired as a reporter at SECTV2 News.

In addition to her daily reporting, Fortson provides the Lehigh Valley with Live 10 day coverage of the biggset musical festival of the year, "Musikfest". She has also covered Valley visits from then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama, and high profile journalists like Larry Kane, and NBC Correspondent Lisa Myers. She is widely known throughout the SECTV viewing area for her coverage of annual parades along side the Valley's popular Mr. Paul., and her community based entertainment and feature style reporting.

Awards and Affiliations

Fortson is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Council of Negro Women, the National Congress of Black Women, and one of the four prestigious and exclusive African American sororities, Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. In 2004, she was recognized by a Philadelphia branch of the Salvation Army for her organization of a holiday toy drive for needy children, and she has received numerous recognitions for community and youth outreach. Fortson is also the founder of a multicultural women's volunteer group known as "Sisters Who Serve". In 2008, she was featured in and on the cover of Lehigh Valley Magazine, in a story about Lehigh Valley celebrities. She and her husband were featured in the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Temple University Alunmi Magazine, the "Temple Review", in an article about Temple graduates who fell in love and got married.

Personal

Fortson is married to Muhammed Williams, also a Temple University graduate. Williams works in the IT industry in Software Engineering. Fortson is the cousin of former NBA power forward Danny Fortson, and the sister-in-law of former NFL and Arena League football player Jafar Williams, who now coaches at the collegiate level for Northwestern University.