Carolyn Clifford is a 22-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who anchors the 4, 6, and 11 pm newscasts. She was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in April 2024 and the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame in September 2021, as well as awarded the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Award winner for Best News Anchor.
Carolyn was born and raised in the city of Detroit and grew up on the northwest side, and is so very proud of the city's comeback and new development.
Carolyn is one of ten children, with nearly 60 nieces and nephews in her family. She was thrilled to return to her hometown and work at the very station she grew up watching. "It's like a dream come true," says Carolyn.
Carolyn is a proud graduate of Michigan State University, earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She also learned mental toughness from spending time in MSU's Army ROTC.
Carolyn was originally hired at WXYZ to anchor weekends and as the station's health reporter. By May 2002, Detroit began waking up with Carolyn when she joined the "7 Action News This Morning" team.
When Carolyn became the co-anchor of 7 Action News at 11 pm, she gave up her daily duties as Channel 7's Health Reporter.
Carolyn spent 13 years informing Detroiters about the latest developments in medical science and the effects they have on our community. Carolyn was also the host of the multiple Emmy-nominated half-hour health programs called "Healthy Living Sunday."
Carolyn came to WXYZ-TV from WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh PA, where she anchored the 10 p.m. newscast. Before that, she anchored the 10 p.m. news at WLFL-TV in Raleigh, NC.
Carolyn also worked at the CBS affiliates in both Orlando, FL and Lansing, MI, but got her real start in news at a small radio station in Lansing.
In 2015, Carolyn was among a handful of journalists selected from across the country and the only news anchor in Michigan to be invited to the White House to interview President Obama about the Iran Nuclear Deal. It was one of the proudest moments of her career because not many journalists can say they were lucky enough to interview a sitting president one-on-one.
Additional memorable moments in broadcasting include interviewing Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, and NBA legends Michael Jordan and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Carolyn has covered everything from hurricanes in North Carolina to former South African President Nelson Mandela's first visit to Michigan after he was freed from prison.
Carolyn's most rewarding stories, however, are those that have helped change the lives of viewers; for example helping a grandmother who could not read find a reading program like Beyond Basics, free mammogram test sites for women in need, or giving women suffering from domestic violence advice and a hand up.
Carolyn also has a mentorship program. She mentors aspiring upcoming journalists, many of whom are working at stations across the country.
Carolyn has been honored by Northwood University as one of their 2022 Distinguished Women and by the Women Informal Network as one of their 2022 Most Influential African American Women in Metropolitan Detroit. Carolyn has also been named "Woman of the Year" by the YWCA of Western Wayne County. She has also been honored by the Detroit City Council and Detroit Urban League for her community and volunteer work in the Metro Detroit area. Carolyn is a former board member and has been honored by First Step, a nonprofit organization that fights domestic violence and sexual assault. Carolyn is on the board of Accelerate 4 Kids, a nonprofit that teaches kids about computer science and STEM education.
One of Carolyn's passions is speaking out against domestic violence at area schools and events. She has also reached out and personally helped many victims of domestic violence. Carolyn also works closely with Beyond Basics Literacy Program with a mission to end illiteracy in all of Michigan. Carolyn has volunteered and mentored homeless children at Cots Peggy's Place, a nonprofit organization in Detroit that assists families in breaking the cycle of homelessness. Also for 25 years, Carolyn has worked closely with Sisters Home Visitors of Mary, a group of Catholic nuns in Detroit that raises funds to help women and children in Abuja Nigeria. Their fundraising efforts have helped build a hospital, a school and a home for Catholic nuns who help poor families and children in Africa. Another program that is near to Carolyn's heart is the Fostering Futures Scholarship Program. Carolyn has emceed their annual program to assist foster youth who are aging out of the system for more than ten years. Carolyn has personally donated clothing and gowns to Jackets for Jobs, a nonprofit organization recognized internationally for helping women and men prepare for employment.
Carolyn has received many professional accolades for her reporting and anchoring work at 7 Action News. She is a 22-time Emmy Award winner, including three Emmys for Best News Anchor. She has also been honored by the Associated Press, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, and given a special tribute by the Karmanos Cancer Institute as one of their "Heroes of Breast Cancer."
Before Carolyn embarked on a career in TV news, she dreamt of dancing on Broadway. As a lifelong dancer, she performed in both the Michigan State Dance Company and the MSU Motion Dance Team before she graduated.
Hoping to make a difference in the children's lives, Carolyn often speaks at area schools and community organizations. One of Carolyn's favorite quotes is from Martin Luther King Junior in 1963: "The ultimate measure of a man or woman is not where he or she stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he or she stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Carolyn, married to Gregory F. Goss, is mother to Airielle, James, Brooke, Alyssa and Gregory Junior.
Carolyn loves spending time with her family and volunteering in our community.
Carolyn is also a proud member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Michigan Association of Broadcast Journalists, National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan, The Links Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
