_Kyra Kyles
Kyra Kyles is a writer for RedEye, a younger sib of the Chicago Tribune. As a blogger, columnist and reporter for the paper, she covers hot trends, events, places and people in Chicago, with a special focus on the area’s burgeoning hip-hop scene. She writes a Friday column for RedEye called “The Kyles Files” addressing topics that run the gamut from the silly (her Shamrock Shake addiction) to the serious –the Australian TV “blackface” flap and local youth violence.
In addition to her daily RedEye responsibilities, Kyra appears live for a special “Kyles Files” segment that airs weekly on WGN-TV. An increasingly popular pop pundit for local and international media outlets, Kyra has won industry accolades from the Tribune’s acclaimed Jones-Beck Award for editorial excellence to spots on Uptown magazine’s coveted “H” [hot] list and Monarch magazine’s roster of “Chicago Movers and Shakers” for the publication’s spring 2010 issue.
Outside the realm of the RedEye, Kyra is a strong advocate for diversity in media, serving as President of the award-winning Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. In a previous term on the board for the organization, she launched the organization’s first-ever mentorship program. She also serves as a mentor for middle-school and high school Chicago Public School students.
A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Kyra earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four years. Prior to joining RedEye, she contributed to publications including Vibe.com, the Chicago Sun-Times, Rap Sheet , Upscale magazine and was selected to co-host a television program called “Worldwide Voices.”
For more information or to connect with Kyra, visit redeyechicago.com/kylesfiles or follow her on Twitter: @thekylesfiles.
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