Tenikka Hughes is an American journalist and evening news anchor for Action News Jax.
Popularity
#10498 Most Popular
#10498 Overall #3228 in Media Personalities
Score: 84
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Best Known For:The television program Action News Jax
Breakthrough:Graduated from Benedict College with an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications in 2003
10 Quick Facts About Tenikka Hughes
- Full Name: Tenikka Hughes
- Nationality: American
- Profession: News anchor and journalist
- Known For: The television program Action News Jax
- Marital Status: Married
- Popular As: Tenikka Smith Hughes
- Gender: Female
- Specialization: News Anchor / Newscaster, Journalist, and Reporter
- Beats: Politics / Government
- Media Level: Local
Tenikka Hughes Age
Tenikka Hughes's exact age is not publicly confirmed.
Education
Her educational background includes studies at Benedict College and University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
- Benedict College
- Qualification: Bachelor's degree
- Field of Study: Mass Communications
- Period: 2003
- University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism
- Qualification: Master's degree
- Field of Study: Journalism
- Period: 2004
Career & Work
Tenikka Hughes' career includes news and reporting roles with WJAX-TV and WFOX-TV (Action News Jax), a television station and WSOC-TV.
Organization: WJAX-TV and WFOX-TV (Action News Jax)
Role: Evening news anchor
Period: 2014–Present
Details: Jacksonville, Florida
Organization: WSOC-TV
Role: Morning news anchor and reporter
Period: 2009–2014
Details: Charlotte, North Carolina · Anchored weekday morning news and reported breaking news, local investigations and community stories.
Organization: WPTY-TV and WLMT-TV
Role: Television news reporter
Period: 2006–2009
Details: Memphis, Tennessee · Reported for morning, midday and evening newscasts, contributing field reporting and online journalism.
Organization: WMAZ-TV
Role: News anchor and reporter
Period: 2006
Details: Macon, Georgia · Worked as an anchor and reporter, including morning and midday newscasts, early in her broadcasting career.
Rise to Fame
Tenikka Hughes rose to prominence for her role on the television show Action News Jax.
Notable Works
Notable media work includes Action News Jax, Tenikka's Books for Kids, and Jacksonville Park Safety Council investigation.
Television
- TV Show: Action News Jax (Evening anchor, 2014-Present) — Jacksonville television newscasts broadcast on CBS47 and FOX30
- Work: Tenikka's Books for Kids (Founder, 2018-Present) — Annual book donation initiative supporting children's reading and the Jacksonville Public Library's summer reading program
- Work: Jacksonville Park Safety Council investigation (Reporter, 2026) — Accountability reporting on the city's Park Safety Council and changes introduced following public scrutiny
- Work: Jacksonville Board of Library Trustees recognizes Tenikka Hughes (Reporter and subject, 2026) — October 2026 reporting about official recognition of her literacy advocacy
Notable Coverage
- Florida aquifer levels and drought - Action News Jax - 2026 - Reported on Northeast Florida drought conditions and pressure on groundwater resources
- Vibrio vulnificus and public-health research - Action News Jax - 2026 - Covered research into predictive tools for dangerous bacteria in Florida waters
- St. Augustine hospital behavioral health investigation - Action News Jax - Investigated concerns about patient supervision after a death in a hospital behavioral health unit
- Consumer fraud and identity theft technology - Action News Jax - Interviewed a consumer-fraud expert about technology intended to protect against identity theft
Awards & Achievements
- Emmy Awards — National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — Television journalism; her professional biographies identify multiple Emmy wins.
- Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence — Radio Television Digital News Association — Team recognition for Action News Jax's large-market television journalism.
- Mark Landen Memorial Award for Democracy through Journalism — READ USA — 2024 — Journalism and community contributions supporting equity and democracy.
- Mary J. Brogan Leadership Award — Florida Literacy Coalition — Leadership and advocacy for literacy.
- Media Friend of Education Award — Delta Kappa Gamma International Society — Support for education and student literacy.
- Library Champion Award — Northeast Florida Library Information Network — 2026 — Community literacy and library advocacy.
Tenikka Hughes Family & Relationships
Tenikka Hughes is married. She has 1 sibling, Darryl.
- Siblings:
- Darryl
Lesser Known Facts
- She grew up in Whitakers, North Carolina, and began imagining herself as a television anchor while still a young child.
Personal Information
- Full Name: Tenikka Hughes
- Popular As: Tenikka Smith Hughes
- Gender: Female
- Occupation: News anchor and journalist
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Black / African
Family & Relationships
- Siblings: Darryl
- Marital Status: Married
Net Worth & Income
- Salary: $56,000–$245,000 (Estimated range)
- Net Worth: $353,000–$5,038,000 (Estimated range)
- Source of Income: Broadcast employment and related professional work
