The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Dawn Stensland
Official Photo
2018
(Photo, ©Lisa Ward Photography)

Broadcast Pioneers member Dawn Stensland Mendte is an Emmy winning journalist who anchors and reports the news on both television and radio. Dawn is a TV reporter and lifestyle segment host for WJLP TV on the “Jersey Matters” Show since 2014.

In 2018, Dawn won a NATAS New York Emmy as co-host of a special report on the opioid crisis. Since 2015, Dawn delivers ‘live’ news reports weekday afternoons on Entercom’s Talk Radio 1210 WPHT “Rich Zeoli Show.” Broadcast Pioneers Member Rich Zeoli and Dawn recently won the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters “Excellence in Broadcasting Award” Outstanding Radio Team.

Dawn’s breakthrough role as a Philadelphia anchor and personality happened during nearly a decade as anchor of The Fox 29 Ten O’Clock News. It was an exciting time for Fox 29 to emerge from a tiny basement studio. Dawn was the new face of The Ten O’Clock News which expanded to one hour, debuted two state of the art studios and earned the highest ratings in station history.

Her award winning work includes years of live field anchoring during major breaking news events, the Obama Presidential victory, Eagles 2005 Superbowl bid and Phillies 2009 Championship games. Prior to Fox, Dawn co-hosted CBS News Saturday Morning in New York, which included everything from interviews with astronauts, Army Generals and Senator John McCain to cooking segments with celebrity chefs.

Dawn’s first anchor job in Philadelphia was the 5 pm hour weekdays on CBS 3 with Broadcast Pioneers member Larry Kane and Ukee Washington. Dawn and her husband, Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer, Larry Mendte have lived in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia for two decades.

Along with their “rescue” dog, Buddy, Dawn & Larry are raising their two boys and cherish weekends packed with grade school sports events. As a family, they believe in “giving back” and volunteering through their parish and community. Dawn has taught journalism writing at LaSalle University.

For decades, Dawn has served dozens of non-profits as a volunteer or board member, including the Police Athletic League, Mission Kids, March of Dimes, Cancer Awareness, USO, Autism Awareness, Career Wardrobe, ML animal rescue, PAWS & Ronald McDonald House.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com