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, Ga. Hope is married and resides in the Chicago area.
Leah's Stories
Hadiya Pendleton murder conviction overturned; new trial ordered in Chicago teen's slaying
In 2018, Micheail Ward was found guilty and sentenced to 84 years in prison for the murder of Pendleton
Charges dropped against Chicago man in 1994 double murder after he served 28 years in prison
"It feels good, but at the same time it's questionable," David Wright said. "For the last 30 years... It's on two family's minds that I did something that I didn't. So how do you change that now?
'Life-changing': Chicago high school students to help behind scenes of NCAA men's Final Four
As preparations are underway in Houston for the Final Four, some young Chicago men are leaving early to work behind the scenes.
South Chicago man fundraises for housing for Mississippi family members displaced by tornado
A Red Cross volunteer and West Side pastor are among Chicagoans helping Mississippi tornado victims.
Gun brought by child goes off in Happy Days daycare in South Holland, officials say
Parents of children at a South Holland daycare center were told by staff that a gun discharged Thursday inside the center while children were present.
Same Pilsen thief caught on camera stealing packages, bike, golf bag, neighbors say
One resident said she came face to face with him, but he quickly ran away.
Meet the Jumping Juniors: Double Dutch program passes along jump rope passion to next generation
Two Chicago women are sharing their love of Double Dutch with a new generation.
11 exonerees file federal lawsuits against former Chicago detective for coercing false confessions
Attorneys for the exonerated said a couple of the men have settled with the city but most are still waiting for their certification of innocence and compensation.
Monee residents and local leaders share concern, optimism over proposed South Suburban Airport
The bill is expected to go to the full House later this week.
West suburban high schools under fire for controversial cotton lesson in slavery unit
Two west suburban high schools are under fire for a cotton lesson that is part of their teachings on slavery in American History classes.