Last Updated on: 10th May 2025, 01:44 pm
Zoey Tur, born Robert Albert Tur on June 8, 1960, in Los Angeles County, California, is a pioneering American broadcast journalist and commercial pilot. She is famous for her helicopter news coverage particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.(The Pink Times)
Tur began her career in journalism at age 18, dropping out of college to pursue her passion. In the early 1980s, she co-founded the Los Angeles News Service with her then-wife, Marika Gerrard. Their service was the first to use an AStar helicopter in a major city to cover breaking news, revolutionizing live news coverage in urban areas. (ArticleBio)
Tur’s team captured some of the most iconic images in Los Angeles history, including the beating of Reginald Denny during the 1992 L.A. riots and the infamous O.J. Simpson slow-speed chase in 1994. These events highlighted the power of real-time aerial reporting and cemented Tur’s place in journalistic history.
Throughout her career, Tur received numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Press Photographers Association Humanitarian Award.
In 2015, Tur publicly came out as transgender, becoming one of the first openly transgender TV reporters in the United States. Her transition was a significant moment in both her personal life and the broader media landscape, reflecting a shift towards greater inclusivity in journalism. (Los Angeles Magazine)
Following her transition, Tur continued her work in media, joining “Inside Edition” as a special correspondent in 2015. She has also appeared in various documentaries and news programs, sharing her unique perspective on journalism and personal transformation. (Yahoo)
Zoey Tur’s legacy is marked by her groundbreaking contributions to broadcast journalism and her role in advancing visibility for transgender individuals in the media. Her work continues to inspire journalists and advocates for diversity and inclusion.