There are people in radio who do their job.

Then there are people who live their job.

And then there are the rare ones who somehow manage to do both — with a microphone in one hand, a stack of research in the other, and just enough humor to remind everyone in the newsroom that journalism doesn’t always have to feel like a root canal.

Enter Esther Dillard.

If you’ve spent any time listening to the Black Information Network, chances are you’ve heard her voice. Maybe it was during the early morning hours when half the country is still trying to convince their coffee maker to cooperate. Maybe it was mid-day when the news cycle starts doing its usual rollercoaster routine. Or maybe it was one of those moments where a serious story needed a steady voice that knew how to guide listeners through it without losing the human side of the story.

That’s Esther.

 

And if there’s one thing you learn quickly about her, it’s that she’s not just another voice reading headlines. She’s a storyteller.

The kind of storyteller radio has always needed.

Esther’s journey into journalism didn’t begin in some giant Manhattan newsroom with neon lights and a producer yelling “We’re live in ten!” No, like a lot of great broadcasters, her path started with curiosity — the kind that pushes someone to ask questions others might overlook.

She’s a proud native of Buffalo, New York. That’s a city with a serious journalism tradition, the kind of place where local news still matters and reporters understand that the story isn’t about them — it’s about the people they’re covering.



From Buffalo, her career began weaving through some of the most respected newsrooms in the country. Along the way she built a résumé that reads like a tour of American media markets.

She worked at WBGO, one of the most respected public radio stations in the country and a home for serious journalism. She also spent time at KTVU, CBS 3 Philadelphia, WGRZ-TV, and WEYI-TV. 

That’s not just a collection of stations. That’s a training ground.

 

Every newsroom teaches you something different. One teaches speed. Another teaches depth. Another teaches you how to handle breaking news while three producers are yelling in your ear and a camera operator is giving you the universal “wrap it up” hand signal.

By the time Esther made her way into national radio news, she already had the kind of experience that makes a journalist dangerous in the best possible way.

 

But here’s the thing that separates her from a lot of broadcasters.

She didn’t just work in media.

She taught it.

For several years Esther served as a communications professor at Bloomfield College in New Jersey, teaching courses like broadcast journalism, writing for radio and television, public speaking, and news gathering. 

 

Now think about that for a second.

That means somewhere out there in America are journalists walking into their own newsrooms every day who learned the craft from Esther Dillard. The lessons she taught — about storytelling, ethics, curiosity, and getting the facts right — are now echoing through dozens of other microphones.

That’s impact.

And speaking of impact, Esther didn’t just build a career in journalism. She built recognition for doing it right.

 

Her work has earned her not one but two prestigious Gracie Awards, which honor excellence by women in media. One of those awards recognized her powerful feature reporting, including a story titled “Black, Autistic and Safe,” which explored the relationship between law enforcement and individuals on the autism spectrum. 

 

That’s not lightweight material.

That’s journalism that digs into real issues affecting real communities.

And that brings us to where many listeners across the country hear Esther today — on the Black Information Network.

BIN launched in 2020 as the first 24/7 national audio news service designed specifically to serve Black communities across the United States. 

It was a bold move in radio.

An all-news network built around stories, perspectives, and issues that too often didn’t receive the national attention they deserved.

And when BIN assembled its newsroom, they didn’t just hire readers.

They hired journalists.

 

Esther quickly became one of the voices helping carry that mission forward.

She delivers national newscasts heard across dozens of markets, reaching millions of listeners each month. But she doesn’t stop there. She also hosts interviews and special segments like “The Color Between the Lines,” a feature that highlights Black authors and thinkers sharing stories that might otherwise slip past the national radar. 

In other words, she’s doing exactly what radio at its best has always done — shining light on stories that matter.

 

And if you know anything about radio newsrooms, you know there’s another skill Esther has mastered.

Versatility.

Because let’s be honest.

In news radio, the phrase “that’s not my shift” doesn’t really exist.

Early mornings? Sure.

Mid-days? Absolutely.

Breaking news at an hour when normal people are asleep? You bet.

Some broadcasters thrive in one daypart.

Esther thrives in all of them.

She’s the kind of journalist who can step into a studio at 5 a.m., deliver a tight national newscast, turn around for interviews, record feature pieces, and still have enough energy to mentor younger journalists later in the day.

That’s not just professionalism.

That’s stamina.

 

And speaking of radio families, we should mention that Esther is part of one of the most talented households in broadcasting.

 

Her husband, Skip Dillard, serves as the program director of 94.7 The Block.

Now if you know anything about radio households, you know that probably means their dinner conversations are… interesting.

 

One side of the table is talking about breaking news coverage.

The other side is talking about music rotations and ratings.

Some couples talk about the weather.

The Dillards probably debate formatting clocks.

But that’s part of what makes them such a fascinating radio family. Between Esther’s journalism and Skip’s programming expertise, the household represents two sides of the industry — the storytelling side and the music-driven side — both operating at a high level.

It’s safe to say talent runs strong in that family.

And yet, despite the awards, the markets, and the national platform, Esther still brings something refreshingly human to her work.

There’s warmth in her delivery.

There’s intelligence in her storytelling.

And there’s just enough personality to remind listeners that the person behind the microphone actually cares about the stories she’s telling.

That combination isn’t easy to teach.

But somehow Esther manages to demonstrate it every single day.

Which is why she earns her place in the spotlight as one of radio’s true News/Talk Power Players — Past and Present.

Because great journalism doesn’t just inform people.

It connects them.

And Esther Dillard has been doing exactly that — one story, one interview, and one broadcast at a time.

And if radio history has taught us anything, it’s this.

 

Stations change.

Formats evolve.

Technology moves forward.

But great storytellers?

They always find a microphone.