Barbara Hamm Lee: A Media Legend Who Carved Space Where Few Existed

Article By Chance Wilson

Meeting Barbara Hamm Lee and watching her in action was a fascinating experience. She reminded me of the powerful women in media during the peak era of television hosts. Figures like Ricki Lake, who was the youngest person at the time to host a TV show, and of course, the greatest of all time, Oprah Winfrey. Yes, the real Oprah Winfrey, whose talk show became the highest-rated daytime program in history and ran for 25 seasons.

However, women in those roles were rare and nearly invisible when you consider the countless women who contributed to media and communications over the decades. The more you learn about them, the more inspired you become. They have influenced generations of young women and men to follow in their footsteps. But that raises the million-dollar question, where do you start? And the answer is college.

It might sound simple or even typical, but it makes a lot of sense. I once heard someone say, “College is where you learn the industry cheat codes,” and I believe it. Colleges pay attention to the demands of the business world and hire top professionals to educate students. Makes sense, right? Even so, choosing the right college for your dreams and goals can still be challenging.

Fortunately for Barbara, she made the right choice by attending Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she focused on mass communications and public relations. That’s where her multifaceted career began. If you believe in perfect timing, consider what happened next that makes that statement undoubtedly true. During her studies, she accepted an externship at WBAL-TV, an NBC affiliate in Baltimore, Maryland. Many people at that point might not have a clue what these opportunities can mean, but sometimes, the next step finds you.

After graduating, Barbara applied for a job at WBAL-TV, only to be told there were no openings available. That same night, she received a call that someone had quit, and she was offered a position as a production assistant. That moment introduced her to the world of television.

Her career at WBAL-TV quickly progressed, moving from TV news producer to assistant producer, eventually becoming a producer. With television now part of her identity, she maneuvered from WBAL-TV to WJZ-TV as a producer for the No. 1 talk show at the time, People Are Talking, hosted by Richard Sher and a young, up-and-coming Oprah Winfrey. This was a pioneering daytime talk show that aired in Baltimore from 1978 to 1984 and laid the foundation for Oprah’s career in television and solidified her media status. What an amazing time to be around the launch of so many legendary personalities and celebrities and Barbara had VIP tickets.

After several years, Barbara was encouraged to broaden her experience and explore other stations beyond WJZ-TV. This led her to Black Entertainment Television, also known as BET, a new and growing network founded by Robert Johnson. BET would go on to become a major global platform for Black culture, music, entertainment, and news. But when Barbara joined, the network had only been around for five years and was having challenges that made this position short-lived after a year. Barbara wasn’t hindered in the least and went on to produce another show called On The Line with well-known Washington, D.C. anchor Paul Berry. Barbara built a reputation with Paul, and when a position arose in his department, she came aboard as his producer at WJLA. Circling within the media industry with a strong work ethic and proven results will put you at the top of the list with neighboring stations, especially one Barbara was already familiar with. After a couple of years, her former employer WJZ-TV reared its head with intent to get her back.

Barbara accepted their offer to return, this time as Special Projects Executive Producer, where she covered the 1988 presidential race, including coverage of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s historic campaign with a rigorous travel schedule. After covering the national political scene, Barbara eventually decided to take another leap, but this time it would bring her to the coast of Virginia in a region called Hampton Roads, where she joined WTKR as an Assistant News Director. Though this was a huge change from a top 4 to a top 40 market, it aligned perfectly with her goals. Barbara not only made an impact locally but also became the station’s first Black female news director and one of the few in the country.

With all of her experience, it would be hard to believe that Barbara wouldn’t take the entrepreneurial route, and she did, in a big way. Barbara wasn’t interested in merely surviving with her endeavors. She aimed to thrive. This was the motivation she needed to co-found a business called Hamm and Fox Communications where she supported nonprofit organizations with their communication and public relations needs.

In her new business, one of her most notable clients was Chief Melvin High of the Prince George’s County Police Department. He hired Barbara’s company to manage the department’s struggling media relations. That move established Barbara not just as a media and PR expert but as a smart business owner, because navigating the difficult communications between a police department and the press is no easy business. This was both intelligent by the department to recognize the need and great positioning for Barbara’s business. In the years to come, Barbara would also start a solo venture called Sharing Info, LLC that she still operates today.

But being in business for herself didn’t stop there, because her corporate journey was not over in the least. Barbara returned to the media world when she was tapped by the CEO of WHRO Public Media in Norfolk, Virginia, to become the station’s new Chief Communications Officer.

This was a perfect match among like minds. WHRO is a nonprofit organization founded in 1961 as Virginia’s first non-commercial educational television station. It is owned by 21 local public school districts under the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association (HRETA). WHRO manages several media platforms, including radio, TV, and educational services. A lot of what makes WHRO unique speaks to areas that Barbara was already familiar with.

I like to think of it as when a fast-moving force meets a passionate, rising star, amazing things happen. Over the years, WHRO has taken advantage of Barbara’s multiple skillsets, which has led to her wearing many hats. Today, she is best known as the host of Another View, a radio program that gives the African American community a greater view of itself and the greater community a view of the African American community. It’s a true win-win that has made a lasting impact across audiences of all backgrounds.

What stood out to me most about connecting with Barbara was her appreciation for her mentors. No matter the generation, we all understand the value of passing on knowledge and opportunity. It is this deep gratitude for her experiences at Bennett College that leads Barbara to regularly share advice with young people on the power of education. She believes it taught her how to engage with different people and how to read the room. Skills that are essential in today’s business and social world.

In such a complex media landscape, situational awareness and storytelling are invaluable. Barbara puts it plainly: “It doesn’t matter how many degrees you have, if you can’t tell a good story, it won’t matter.” I would say that’s the language of a new generation that is often misunderstood, and Barbara continues to listen to them and finds renewed hope for tomorrow through their insightful conversations.

Barbara has always stayed true to her purpose and to driving solutions forward. Even when the topic of retirement comes up, she can’t imagine stepping away. Telling her to stop working would be like telling an artist to stop painting. For many artists, your greatest work is not the one you’ve already created, but the ability to keep imagining the next masterpiece.