Robert "Rob" Redding, Jr. (born January 13, 1976) is an American political commentator, independent journalist, artist, author and social entrepreneur. Redding is publisher of Redding News Review and hosts a nationally syndicated talk radio show and podcast.
Contents |
Redding is the son of Rev. Robert Redding Sr., an Atlanta pastor and former president of the Fayette County's Black Voters League, and the late Mary Ann Redding, who was an Atlanta public school teacher and a Fayette school board candidate. He began his media career as a hip-hop radio personality at KZWA-FM, while at McNeese State University in Lake Charles in 1994.[1]
In 1996, he accepted a full time position as a hip-hop night personality at WIBB-FM in Macon, GA, where he was named "Tony Smoove" by his program director. Macon was also the home of another Redding family member, '60s soul singer Otis Redding.[1]
He left hip-hop for talk radio and journalism, working at a series of newspapers: The Prince George's Sentinel, The Prince George's Gazette, The Prince George's Journal, The Macon Telegraph, and finally The Washington Times. During that same time he began his talk radio career filling in for Bernie McCain on Radio-One's WOL in Washington, D.C. in 1999. In 2001, he landed his first full-time job in talk radio doing afternoons at CBS Radio's WAOK-AM, where he started ReddingNewsReview.com. He left the station in 2003 and began syndicating his talk radio show while filling in for Ambrose I. Lane Sr. on XM 169 The Power.[1]
He has since inked his own weekend syndication deals with GCN and XM in 2008.[2]
He returned via weekend syndication to WAOK in July 2010.[3]
On August 30, 2010, he began doing a weekday show for GCN, while still doing the Sunday show.[4]
Redding's web site and radio show, which are both called Redding News Review, are responsible for breaking stories like: former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young's comments about Sen. Barack Obama not being ready to be president; syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts being threatened by a white supremacist group; and NBC Nightly News Managing Editor and Anchor Brian Williams comments about diversity not being a big issue. Both Williams and NBC apologized for those comments.[5]
The web site's top content is syndicated hourly by Google News. Its stories are heard regularly on NPR and the Fox News Channel. Its comprehensive coverage of the black community became a resource for Fox News during the Don Imus' "nappy-headed ho's" controversy. Its scoops have also been acknowledged or linked to by BET, MSNBC, The Hill, Roll Call, The Baltimore Sun, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Times, and The National Newspaper Association.[5]
The web site - which has been called "an Internet clearinghouse for African-American news," by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - won Black Web Awards in 2008, 2009 and 2010.[6]
The radio show - which is heard on SiriusXM 128 and on almost 10 radio stations via GCN - comes after Redding was named one of the "100 most important radio talk show hosts in America" by industry trade Talkers magazine.[7]
He has also been called a "rising star" (Talkers magazine), "one of the most respected names in the media" (Upscale magazine), "one of the most intellectual and intriguing radio talk show hosts since Tavis Smiley" (Radio Facts) and awarded a proclamation by the Atlanta City Council for his hard hitting uniquely Independent talk radio show.
In addition to being on the air nationwide, he was once one of the only black program directors of a mainstream conservative talk radio station, KMLB-AM in Monroe, Louisiana.[8]
Redding is author of Hired Hatred: Why politicians and the political prejudices they tout are mutually exclusive from good government. His Independent manifesto is said to "invoke an activist spirit," according to a review in 2005 by New York's Black Star News.
In 2006, he founded IndependentThinkers.org, an organization dedicated to conducting research and rewarding its members with scholarships, internships, jobs, publishing, broadcasting and networking opportunities that advance critical nonpartisan, independent thought.
He is also publisher of The Washington Continent, a general interest continuously updated website covering politics in and around Washington, D.C., from a nonpartisan, independent perspective.
He is also founder of Black Talkers, a web site which covers the black talk media industry.
Redding is also an artist, who paints abstract "smear paintings." The Washington, D.C., Georgetowner highlighted only his art in a group show on Capitol Hill in 2006 writing: "It is always an event anytime Rob Redding's smear paintings are featured."[9]
Redding is also author of the "Resolution of Risk," which was first used at the International Public Debate Association's National Tournament after being published in the organization's peer-reviewed publication, "The Journal of the International Public Debate Association," and being presented by Redding before a packed audience.[10]
Redding is also narrator of "Stay Brady Stay," a documentary about the future of Louisiana.[11]