{{short description|American journalist and news presenter}} '''Bella Shaw''' is an American TV personality, journalist and news presenter, known for her work on TV infomercials and prior work on CNN from 1984-1993 when her contract as co-host of CNN's "Showbiz Today" program was not renewed.

==Professional life== Shaw attended the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in journalism<ref name=Elite>[http://scvelitemagazine.com/index.php/160-elite/2012/december-january/792-from-the-farm-showto-cnn-bella-shaw "From the Farm Show…To CNN" - Bella Shaw] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327163734/http://scvelitemagazine.com/index.php/160-elite/2012/december-january/792-from-the-farm-showto-cnn-bella-shaw |date=March 27, 2016 }}, in Élite Magazine; published November 27, 2012; retrieved March 18, 2016</ref> while participating in the university's radio station,<ref name=Signal>[http://www.signalscv.com/archives/73973/ Anchorwoman stays current: Former CNN anchor Bella Shaw evolves with new media landscape] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326110612/http://www.signalscv.com/archives/73973/ |date=2016-03-26 }}, by Michele E. Buttelman; in ''the Santa Clarita Valley Signal''; published August 26, 2012; retrieved March 18, 2016</ref> and began working at WKY Radio in 1976.<ref name=Elite/> There, she was a news presenter until being laid off when the station switched to FM format; however, at that time, KTVY (now KFOR-TV) was located in the same building, and she began working there instead.<ref name=Signal/>

After seven years at KTVY, during which she was only given shifts on weekends,<ref name=NewsOK>[http://newsok.com/article/2101217 Shaw has come a long distance], by Glen Phillips, in ''the Oklahoman''; published March 10, 1985; retrieved March 18, 2016</ref> Shaw concluded that KTVY offered her no chance for career advancement, and applied to the then-nascent Cable News Network, on the grounds that "Ted Turner was hiring a lot of people from Oklahoma".<ref name=Elite/> Shaw's first day at CNN was July 12, 1984; although she had not been scheduled to appear on-camera that day, the regular news anchor was temporarily unavailable, and Shaw was chosen to report the news that Walter Mondale had selected Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate for the 1984 presidential election.<ref name=Signal/>

In 1989, she became the co-host of CNN's ''Showbiz Today'', replacing Bill Tush;<ref name=Chicago>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/10/11/cnn-remakes-its-showbiz/ Cnn Remakes Its `Showbiz`], ''Chicago Tribune''; published October 11, 1989; retrieved March 18, 2016</ref> however, in 1993, CNN chose not to renew her contract, replacing her on ''Showbiz Today'' with Jim Moret,<ref name=LexingtonDispatch>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19930225&id=_pkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9FIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5822,4974251&hl=en CNN lets news anchor go], in ''the Dispatch''; published February 25, 1993; retrieved March 18, 2016 (via Google News Archive)</ref> which ''Variety'' attributed to Moret being perceived as "more serious" than Shaw.<ref name=Variety>[https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/shaw-s-out-moret-s-in-on-cnn-s-showbiz-104260/ Shaw's out, Moret's in on CNN'S 'Showbiz'], in ''Variety''; published February 23, 1993; retrieved March 18, 2016</ref>

She subsequently joined Santa Clarita Valley local TV broadcasting with Time Warner Cable.

Today, Shaw anchors weekly for Torrance Citicable’s “COVID-19 Today”. This show airs daily Monday-Thursday locally. <ref name=Signal/>

==Personal life==

Shaw was born in Austria, where her father was serving in the United States army, and raised in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.<ref name=Signal/>

She has twice been married: first to doctor Jim Hays,<ref name=NewsOK/> and later to banker Mark Soroko who died suddenly in March 2010.<ref name=Signal/>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1985|| ''Invasion U.S.A.'' || Newscaster #3 || |- |2008|| ''Killer Tumbleweeds'' || New York Anchor || |- |2022|| ''The Santa Clauses'' || Interviewer ||

|}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://bellashaw.com/ Official site]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaw, Bella}} Category:University of Oklahoma alumni Category:Living people Category:American women journalists Category:CNN people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century American women