Janet Davies has been with ABC 7 Chicago over 25 years. In addition to her feature and entertainment segments, which appear on ABC 7 News, Davies was the host and executive producer of 190 North a multiple Emmy award winning Chicago-based entertainment and lifestyle program. 190 North was the top rated program in its time period and the longest running magazine program in Chicago broadcasting history.

As an ABC 7 reporter, Davies has covered general assignment and feature stories. She has traveled the world, covering such diverse stories from the British Royal family, to the endangered species of

Kenya to Israeli reaction in Jerusalem during the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference. She has also reported from the Academy Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards, The American Music Awards and International Fashion’s Prêt a Porter in Paris, France. In addition, she has been the co-anchor of the ABC7 Weekend Morning News.

Besides 190 North, her other local program duties include co-host/executive producer of both the #1 rated live broadcasts of “Countdown Chicago” on New Year’s Eve and ABC 7’s coverage of “The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival”, in addition to hosting the Columbus Day, Southside Irish and Pride Parade broadcasts.

Previously, Davies produced and hosted “Janet Davies Interviews” a web chat show with iconic Chicagoans and the former magazine shows “Eye on Chicago”, “WLS Presents” and “Chicago Stories”. She was also a fill-in host for the talker “AM Chicago”.

Davies has also created programs that have explored the various accomplishments of Chicago’s Latino and African-American communities. Her Black History month documentary, “Re-discovering a Black Pioneer’s Dream” was placed in the permanent collection of The Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois.

Davies came to ABC 7 from WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, Pa., where she co-hosted, co-produced, and wrote for the number one rated local talk show “A.M. Philadelphia’” while providing features for the news department. Previously, Davies hosted/produced the half-hour magazine show, “Front Page Saturday Night” at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio and hosted “Columbus Alive” on Warner Cable’s Qube-TV – broadcasting’s first interactive cable talk show.

Davies began her broadcasting career at Cincinnati’s WKRC-TV as general assignment reporter and noon news weather anchor. She eventually became weekend anchor and City Hall reporter for Eyewitness 12 News. Davies later was tapped to serve as co-host and executive producer for Cincinnati’s Emmy award winning “PM Magazine”.

Davies developed and has served on the Corporate Board of Directors for Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and has been the co-host for the Hospital’s annual Champions Broadcast for 27 years. Davies also works with the Leukemia Research Foundation, creating their successful annual 5K race which is in its 19th year. She also has worked with The American Cancer Society, the Cradle, an adoption agency based in Evanston, Illinois and has been the Chicago Ambassador for CARE, the global poverty organization, working in India on documenting their programs. In addition, she has lobbied on Capitol Hill for increased funding for USAID and also finds time to serve on her youngest child’s School Advisory Board. Davies presents motivational speeches to non-profit agencies, schools and numerous organizations.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Davies was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned a B.A. degree from Miami University in Ohio, majoring in communications and minoring in history. Davies also has dual USA and Irish citizenship.

Davies, her husband and children reside on Chicago’s North Side.

AWARDS

• EMMY AWARDS (13 awards) (64 nominations) – NATAS Chapters in Midwest (reporting, hosting, producing, writing)
• 2013 SILVER CIRCLE – Chicago Chapter of National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Career Award for legendary journalists
• SILVER DOME (3) – Illinois Broadcasters (producing/hosting Magazine and Special Events)
• IRIS AWARD – National Association of Television Program Executives (Children’s Programming)
• TRIBUTE AWARD – League of Chicago Theatres
• DANTE AWARD – Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans (Outstanding Media)
• DAVINCI AWARD- Order Sons of Italy (Outstanding Media)
• TRAILBLAZER AWARD – Women Empowered
• (Coverage of Chicago’s African-American community)
• OSTERMAN AWARD – Meeting Planners International (supporting Chicago tourism)
• FOUNDERS AWARD – Design 4 Dignity (outstanding reporting on non-profits)
• FASHION REPORTING AWARD – Chicago Apparel Industry!

You can also find Ms. Davies on Facebook & Twitter.