NYWICI Member Esther Dillard: Telling Stories that Matter, with Empathy at the Core
Esther Dillard’s journey into journalism didn’t begin in a newsroom—it began in her childhood living room, where she was captivated by the voices on PBS and drawn to the storytelling power of The Today Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. As a young girl, she didn’t just watch—she studied. Oprah’s signature interviewing style fascinated her: the way she asked questions, created trust, and connected with people on a deeper level. Esther began recording episodes, replaying them to understand how a conversation could turn into something truly meaningful.
That fascination turned into a calling. At SUNY Buffalo, Esther began charting her own path by writing for the student newspaper and interning at The Buffalo News. There, she started to see a real future in journalism. She built a portfolio, applied to graduate programs, and was accepted to Syracuse University’s respected journalism school. She balanced coursework, internships, and on-air training with grit and determination.
Her next stop: a return to PBS, but this time behind the scenes. Working overnight shifts, she stayed long after hours, teaching herself to edit and slowly building her first on-air reel from spare newsroom footage. That late-night hustle led to her first reporting job at WGRZ, an NBC affiliate in Buffalo. From there, her career took flight, with stops in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Flint, and beyond. In every city, she took on roles from field reporting and anchoring to teaching journalism at the college level.
Today, Esther is a writer, anchor, and reporter for the Black Information Network on iHeart Radio, where she tells stories that often go unheard—with intention, empathy, and depth. Her work has not gone unnoticed. She is a two-time Gracies Award Winner, honored in both 2024 and 2025 for her excellence in reporting and powerful storytelling. The Gracies, awarded by the Alliance for Women in Media, recognize women who are making a lasting impact in media—and Esther is doing just that.
But her story doesn’t end with journalism. Esther’s personal life shaped her professional mission in profound ways. When her son was born and later diagnosed with autism, her world expanded again. She became an advocate not just for him, but for families like hers. That journey led her to write Raising an Autistic Young Adult: A Parent’s Guide to ASD Safety, Communication, and Employment Opportunities to Empower Black and Brown Caregivers and Their Families. Her book is both deeply personal and profoundly practical—offering guidance to Black and brown caregivers navigating neurodiversity in a world not always built with them in mind.
Her message is powerful: “Not everyone communicates in the same way, but everyone deserves to be heard and safe.” She encourages parents to stay patient, build community, and honor their child’s unique path—wisdom born of lived experience.
Through it all, Esther has never stopped growing. She continues to evolve with the industry, embracing new tools, new formats, and new platforms. But her approach remains rooted in the same values that first drew her to Oprah’s interviews: genuine connection, deep listening, and the belief that empathy is a journalist’s greatest strength.
To young professionals, her advice is simple yet profound: show up, stay curious, and build real relationships. The most powerful stories, she says, are the ones that don’t just inform—they move us. And that kind of storytelling doesn’t come from chasing headlines. It comes from the heart.
