The All Women in Media Foundation has announced the 2025 winners of the annual Gracie Awards.
The Gracies recognize outstanding contributions by women in media, both in front of and behind the camera.
This year, we are proud to announce that WJXT’s Jenese Harris won a Gracie in the category of On-Air Talent. This award honors outstanding on-air talent who demonstrate a keen understanding of the scope and impact of the stories they’re delivering and the skills to deliver those stories in a highly credible and compelling manner.
We think Jenese represents all of those things and more. She is a role model journalist, a meteorologist, a news anchor and a television professional. She is the first African American woman meteorologist at WJXT in Jacksonville and is setting a high standard for weather storytelling.
She cares deeply about her adopted hometown of Jacksonville after eight years in the River City. Her work focuses on issues such as education, social justice, child abuse, the opioid epidemic, economic development and helping our communities thrive.
In 2024, Jenese created a mental health series that focused on different ages, genders and experiences with the focus of providing hope for all.
Harris previously worked at WCCU/WICD in Champaign, Illinois. Prior to that, she worked for CBS 2 Chicago and the Local News Service as an assignment editor and field producer covering everything from city council chamber meetings and federal court cases to protests and celebrity charity events.
Before moving to Chicago, for nearly three years, she was the anchor, reporter and producer of the 5, 6 and 10 o’clock evening news, for market leader WABG in Greenville, Mississippi. Her on-air career began in Tampa at WMOR as a television host for a weekly entertainment show, MORE TV 32.
Her career started in the Midwest at the age of 15, as an intern at WEDU in Detroit, Michigan; then interning at a local radio station every year after; before working as an apprentice for the Detroit Free Press.
Harris was the keynote speaker for the Women’s History Month program at the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and was on the Make-a-Wish Foundation Central Illinois board.
Harris has a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in Communications from the University of South Florida. In 2016, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University.
Harris has a love for genealogy, history, farming and animals.
Along with being a journalist and meteorologist, Jenese is a girl mom, daughter, sister, role model and friend to many. She is making a difference every day with her work. This is why we are so proud of Jenese as she is awarded a Gracie, showcasing Women’s Excellence in Television.
She will be among the winners honored at the Gracies Luncheon on June 18 in New York. Please join us in congratulating Jenese on this well-deserved and highly respected honor.
