There is only one Sidmel Estes, president of Breakthrough Inc., a dynamic executive media management consulting firm. Her work with the company includes being the media manager for the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation, talent representative with Drew Berry and Associates, senior associate with Devonwood Media and publisher of the Metro Atlanta E-Guide. She is one of those new “fifty and fabulous” women who are rocking the world with their power and self-assuredness. Ms. Estes is a true Southern belle who has lived through the turmoil of desegregation and achieved what many people would consider the “American Dream”. She’s a nationally recognized television insider who has worked in the industry for almost three decades. She helped create and built the successful morning program “Good Day Atlanta” at WAGA/Fox 5 where she worked for 27 years.
Who’s Who in Black Atlanta selected her as one of their “most interesting personalities.” She made history in 1991 when she was elected as the first woman president of the National Association of Black Journalists. In 1993, she was listed in Ebony magazine’s 100 Most Influential Black Americans and Organizations. And she was recently named one of the “40 Voices of Distinction” recognized by the historic Atlanta Voice newspaper.
She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as an honors graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She was inducted as a charter member of the school’s Hall of Achievement and has served for several years as a member of the school’s Board of Advisors. She was honored in 2004 with one of Northwestern’s most prestigious recognitions, an Alumni Service after she was elected as president of the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association.
Ms. Estes has won several local Emmy awards and in 2003 received the highest honor from the television academy as the recipient of the Silver Circle award that celebrates 25 years of service to the television industry. She’s also won awards from the Associated Press, American Women in Radio and Television and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists. In 1988, she received a unique honor when the National Association of Media Women selected her as the Media Woman of the Year. As a result of that award, then mayor Andrew Young proclaimed November 18th, 1988 as “Sidmel Estes-Sumpter Day” in the city of Atlanta.
The Pioneer Black Journalist designee from the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists was awarded a lifetime membership from that local chapter as well as the national association. She shared the benefit of her experience as an adjunct professor of journalism at Emory University and is a frequent instructor in classrooms from elementary to the college level. She continued her professional development with a fellowship from the McCormick Tribune Foundation sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters.
As a result of her commitment to the community, she’s received numerous awards from civic, community and church organizations. Ms. Estes has been extensively published in national publications like more magazine, Essence magazine and several newspapers. She was also featured in a fabulous book published by Meredith Publications entitled, 50 Celebrate 50. She has two beautiful boys, Joshua and Sidney.
