Who was Ruth Ashton Taylor? Longtime Broadcast Journalist Dead at 101

Ruth Ashton Taylor, a trailblazing journalist in TV and radio, known for her work with Edward R. Murrow at CBS News and her enduring presence on Los Angeles airwaves, has passed away at the age of 101. Her family confirmed her demise to KCAL-TV Los Angeles.

A Long Beach native, Taylor made history as the first woman with an on-air news role in Los Angeles when she joined CBS’ KSTL-TV in late 1951. Initially hired for a “women’s segment,” Taylor refused to be confined to covering only “women’s stories” and produced content guided by solid journalistic principles. Her success led to a similar segment for CBS’ Los Angeles radio powerhouse KNX.

Taylor’s approach to storytelling was unique; she covered a range of topics, including cars, airplanes, and fashion, asserting that she offered a woman’s perspective, which was inherently valid. Suzanne Haibach Marteney, who explored Taylor’s career in a doctoral thesis for Cal State Northridge in 1986, noted Taylor’s enjoyment of fashion stories as a reflection of societal changes.

In 1952, Taylor transitioned to KNX, hosting the syndicated program “The Women’s News Desk,” which aired on CBS-affiliated stations across Western states. Her career evolved with “The Ruth Ashton Show,” a half-hour KNX program featuring news headlines and feature stories. Despite her success, Taylor left KNX in 1959 due to sponsor pressures and a shift towards covering events like department store openings.

Taking on a public relations role for Claremont Colleges, Taylor promoted the schools as the “Oxford of the West.” However, by 1963, she returned to KNX radio and, three years later, rejoined the TV station, then KNXT-TV (now KCBS-TV). Taylor hosted various programs, including weekend newscasts, a weekly religious program, and a weekend newsmaker interview program co-hosted with Los Angeles broadcast legend Bill Stout. Her influential presence remained on KNXT until the mid-1980s. Ruth Ashton Taylor’s legacy is marked by her groundbreaking contributions to journalism and her enduring impact on the media landscape in Los Angeles.