Mary Parks

Mary Parks is an award-winning television journalist who's spent most of her career in Los Angeles.

While covering news for CBS and NBC, Parks was the recipient of local Emmys, Golden Mikes, Associated Press and Los Angeles Press Club awards. Her breaking-news coverage includes California’s earthquakes and wildfires, the LA riots, the OJ Simpson case, and the search, capture and trial of America's first female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos. Wuornos later became the subject of the Hollywood movie Monster starring Charlize Theron.

Parks produced a short documentary in 2005 on rare conjoined twins born at Loma Linda Medical Center & Children's Hospital. She’s appeared in national commercials for Chevy, Ford, Visa, Google, Snickers, Panda Express and the Super Bowl.

Mary’s work has been nationally recognized with a Pegasus Award, the gold standard of video production, and as an AVA Platinum winner in International Digital Media Competition. She received the CalFire Meritorious Service Award and recognition from the American Legion for her reporting.

Before moving to California, Parks worked in local news in Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona Beach, FL where she served as Bureau Chief. She produced numerous news reports on space shuttle launches from Cape Canaveral. She began her career in her home state of Michigan at WKZO.

Today, Mary Parks is the creator and host of the weekly television series "Exploring the American Spirit" seen on PBS, Charter/Time Warner and The California Channel statewide.

Mary has received many awards for volunteer efforts in her community. Her contributions have been recognized by the President of the United States, the Governor of California, the California State Assembly and State Senate. Mary received an appointment from California's Governor in 1997 as an advocate for persons with developmental disabilities.