Allison Payne with long-time co-anchor, Steve Sanders

Allison Payne, a nine-time Emmy award-winning journalist, is the co-anchor of the WGN Midday News with Steve Sanders. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Allison grew up in Detroit, Michigan where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Detroit. After receiving her masters’ degree at Bowling Green State University, Allison began her broadcast career as reporter/anchor at WNWO-TV in Toledo, Ohio. Allison soon moved on to WNEM-TV in Saginaw, Michigan where she was principal anchor for two years.

In 1990, WGN named Allison co-anchor of its premier “9 O’clock News.” Allison served in that capacity for 19 years before being moved to WGN’s Midday News where she rejoined her former co-anchor, Steve Sanders.

Allison enjoys political reporting and profiling newsmakers. She has also traveled extensively internationally as a reporter. In 200?, Allison went to Kenya to trace the roots of then senator, Barack Obama. In 2006, she traveled to the Middle East with the Reverend Jesse Jackson as he attempted to negotiate peace between Israel and Lebanon. Allison shoots and produces her own international stories for WGN.

Allison has established the Kathryn Payne Scholarship in honor of her late mother. Allison is very close to her father whom she credits for much of her success as a journalist. A long time English teacher, her father emphasized the importance of good diction and helped her hone her speaking skills.

Allison loves travel and history. She shares a birthday with Abraham Lincoln and is a collector of Lincoln busts.