Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Author
Profile
Leah Hope Biography
Leah Hope is an African-American working in the field of journalism as a reporter for WLS ABC7 News in Chicago. Before joining the station in 1997, she worked as a weekend evening newscast and a weekday reporter at KATU, an ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon.
Leah Hope Height
Hope stands at a rough height of 5 feet and 6 inches.
Leah Hope Age
Hope was born on April 23rd, but has yet to reveal her real birth year; thus, her age is not known. She annually celebrates her birthday on April 23rd, as suggested by her Facebook repost on April 23, 2023, captioned “I’m shouting ‘Happy Birthday’ to my phenomenal friend Leah Hope…”
Personal Life
Leah Hope Relatives and Family
Hope is the great-granddaughter of John Hope, the first African-American elected president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. However, she keeps more information regarding her family and relatives away from the public eye, but we will update this information once it’s available to the public.
Leah Hope Spouse and Children
Hope tied the knot with Bryan Smith, as suggested by her Instagram post on June 20, 2018, wishing him a happy birthday. The couple has a daughter named Elsie Marie. She lives in the Chicago area.
Leah Hope Education
Hope received her high school diploma before enrolling at Syracuse University in New York. She later graduated wit a Bachelor of Science Degree in Broadcast Journalism/Political Science.
Professional Life
Leah Hope Career
Hope works as a reporter for ABC 7, focusing on special investigations and significant topics that affect the people of Chicago. Before joining the station, she worked as a weekend evening newscast and a weekday reporter for KATU, an ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon. She also worked at WISH-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana, holding a similar position to the one at KATU. She officially started her career at WBOC in Salisbury, Maryland, where she was a general assignment reporter.
Besides her broadcasting work, Hope serves as a visiting faculty member at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida. She also works as a Journalism Advisory Board member at Columbia College. Moreover, she is affiliated with numerous journalism organizations, including the American Women in Radio and Television, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Investigative Reporters and Editors Association.
Hope also interacts with the community through work and art. In this capacity, she is a member of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago, and the Leadership Advisory Council at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her charity work took her all the way to Minneapolis on a bicycle to take part in the 2001 Chicago AIDS Ride. In addition, she has participated in various breast cancer awareness efforts focused on encouraging early detection.
Awards
Hope has been honored both locally and nationally for covering issues in the African-American community. For instance, in 2003, she won two awards from the National Association of Black Journalists for reporting on a group of “Lost Boys” attacked by a Chicago gang and shifts in the beauty sector mirroring America’s diversifying demographics.
Hope received the 2003 Russ Ewing Excellence in Journalism Award from the National Association of Black Journalists Chicago Chapter. In 2004, the organization honored her again with the Excellence in Enterprise Journalism Award for her series of investigations into affirmative action.
Hope won an Emmy award for the 30-minute primetime special, “9/11/02 The New Homeland.” She also played a key role in the “People, Places, and Things You Should Know: Women in Science and Technology,” which received the 2001 Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television.
Hope has received multiple Peter Lisagor Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for breaking news coverage, consumer, and business reporting. The Chicago chapter of the Council on Islamic American Relations honored her with the Media Award for ethical reporting in 2007. In 2012, she received the Diogenes Award for Excellence in Media from the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. Additionally, she won an Emmy for her reports during the NATO Summit.
Leah Hope Net Worth
Hope has garnered a net worth ranging from $1 million to $6 million during her successful career as a journalist.
Leah Hope Salary
Hope receives an approximate annual salary of $110, 000, which she earns working as a reporter for ABC7 News.
Leah Hope Social Media
Hope has active social media platforms, i.e., Facebook, X(previously Twitter), and Instagram. She has a following of over 16K on Facebook, over 2.6K on Instagram, and over 3.4K on X.
