Leah Hope
Prior to joining ABC 7, Hope worked at KATU-TV, the ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon. At KATU-TV, she anchored weekend evening newscasts and reported during the week. Previously, she held the same positions at WISH-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hope began her broadcasting career as a general assignment reporter at WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Maryland.
Hope's work covering issues in the African American community has been honored on both national and local levels. In 2003, she won two awards from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for reports on a group of "Lost Boys" attacked by a Chicago gang and changes in the cosmetic industry that reflect the changing face of America. The NABJ Chicago Chapter awarded Hope the 2003 Russ Ewing Excellence in Journalism Award and recognized her again with the 2004 Excellence in Enterprise Journalism Award for a series of reports on affirmative action.
Hope received an Emmy award for the half-hour primetime special, "9/11/02 The New Homeland." She contributed to "People, Places, and Things You Should Know: Women in Science and Technology," which won the 2001 Gracie Award from American Women in Radio and Television. Hope has been awarded several Peter Lisagor Awards, given by the Society of Professional Journalists, for stories ranging from breaking news coverage to consumer and business reporting. She was honored by the Chicago chapter of the Council on Islamic American Relations with the 2007 Media Award for ethical reporting. Hope was honored as the 2013 recipient of the Diogenes Award for Excellence in media from the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. In addition to that she won an Emmy for reporting during the 2012 NATO Summit.
Hope is as a visiting faculty member at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is a Journalism Advisory Board member at Columbia College and belongs to several journalism organizations including: Investigative Reporters and Editors Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, American Women in Radio and Television, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Outside journalism, her community involvement includes work in the arts. She is a member of the Leadership Advisory Council at the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art and Instituto Cervantes of Chicago. Hope's charitable work took her to Minneapolis on bicycle to participate in the 2001 Chicago AIDS Ride. She has been involved in several breast cancer awareness campaigns to promote early detection.
Hope received her B.S. degree in Broadcast Journalism/Political Science from Syracuse University in New York. She is the great-granddaughter of John Hope; the first African American president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Hope lives in the Chicago area.
Leah's Stories
Local experts monitoring hantavirus cases, say risk to Chicago area is low
While the COVID-19 pandemic was not that long ago, health leaders stress this is a different situation.
Hundreds pay respects at funeral, procession for fallen Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew
Family, friends, and colleagues of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew gathered Friday to say their final goodbyes.
Suburban mother, daughter work as NICU nurses at Rush hospital, where daughter was born as preemie
Two suburban women are using their unique experiences to help new moms and their babies.
Obama Presidential Center tickets go on sale ahead of grand opening
The long-awaited Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park opens to the public on June 19, but tickets to the museum went on sale Wednesday morning, with the opening weekend selling out fast.
Cook County Public Health now offering home check-ins for new parents, their babies
Every parent knows that babies do not come with manuals. But what if new parents could get help at home from a nurse?
Obama Presidential Center: Invite-only soft opening held Monday; tickets go on sale this week
On Monday, a select few people got to see part of the center.
Gas prices jump overnight across Chicago area
If you are heading out to get gas on Friday, you will have to pay a lot more than you did on Thursday.
Man charged in shooting death of Loyola student pleads not guilty, faces victim's parents in court
The parents of Sheridan Gorman faced their daughter's accused killer as he pled not guilty on Wednesday.
Couple who got married at Loyola Medical Center celebrates daughter's 1st year of life
A couple who got married inside Loyola University Medical Center were celebrating again Tuesday, as their daughter turned 1.
Cook County judge considers petition for special prosecutor for 'Midway Blitz' cases
Hundreds of petitioners request a special prosecutor consider whether criminal charges should be brought against federal agents after "Operation Midway Blitz."