Tonya Pendleton

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Reality Check

Reality Check with Tonya Pendleton is your go-to source for thought-provoking commentary and lively conversations, featuring newsmakers and noisemakers from Philly and beyond. Airing every Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (when City Council is not in session), the show takes a deep dive into a wide range of topics, including politics, social issues, technology, entertainment, sports, and more. With Tonya’s veteran multimedia journalism experience and a rotating lineup of insightful […]

Writer/editor/multimedia professional and WURD Radio’s “Reality Check” host Tonya Pendleton has snowboarded with rapper/actor Ja Rule, sang background for Will Smith and shared helicopter rides with Sean “Diddy” Combs – all the while exploring the joy and tumult of Black culture, its architects and aficionados with uncommon fervor and insight.

An in-demand web and print journalist, web content creator and editor for over two decades, Pendleton’s intuitive mix of reportage, analysis and commentary have led to appearances on classic TV shows like VH-1’s “Ultimate Albums” and “Behind the Music.” She’s also contributed cultural and sports stories to Slam, ESPN and Brand Jordan magazines, and appeared on ESPN Classic’s “Sportscentury.” She was the founding music editor of BET.com, as well as its managing editor, and the lead interviewer for America Online’s pioneering series
“Sessions @AOL.” As contributing editor for theGrio.com, she helped to create the site’s discerning content mix on issues of note for an African-American audience, making it among the top sites for that demographic with over four million monthly unique visitors. She is also the voice and producer of “Things to Do” on NPR affiliate WHYY, keeping Philadelphians abreast of weekend arts, music and cultural events.