Jenna Deery

BIO

I may be far from my hometown, but this Florida girl is now proud to call the Miami Valley home. I joined the News Center 7 team in February 2011 as a general assignment reporter. In August 2011, I became the weekend anchor for News Center 7.

I had jumped on I-65 North among other bustling highways to get to Dayton from Montgomery, Alabama where I worked as the weekend anchor and weekday reporter for WAKA. While I was there, my job sent me all over the place including on board an airplane to uncover the secret skydiving life of a school superintendent and to Los Angeles, California to unveil a Montgomery grocery chain owner's relationship to the Jackson Family following Michael Jackson's death. However, I spent most of my time covering Alabama's capitol city politics which included a federal investigation into a former attorney general and a major overhaul of state ethics laws following bribery and corruption charges filed against four state senators and seven others.

Before starting my reporting career, I worked at WHIO's sister station, WFTV in my hometown of Orlando, FL where I worked behind the scenes in nearly every aspect of news production at the market's leading station.

I am a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham where I earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I also studied abroad in both Spain and the United Kingdom.

When I'm not in the newsroom, I enjoy being near the water or even a television set to enjoy a great game of football, basketball or hockey.

If you see me, please feel free to stop and say hello. Also, if there is a story you would like to tell, email me with your story.

Q & A

Where were you born?

Norfolk, Va.

Where did you grow up?

Sharpsburg, MD/Orlando, Fl.

What was your favorite TV show then?

Saved By The Bell

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?

Growing up near Sea World, I always wanted to be marine biologist so I could swim with the dolphins and killer whales. Then, I barely passed marine biology in high school and realized that job was not for me.

How might someone have described you in high school?

Most Encouraging

What was your first job?

I ran my own babysitting club on my block and made some good money at it, too.

What was your first job in television?

I worked at WHIO's sister station, WFTV in Orlando as an associate producer writing copy for almost every show.

What do you like about your job?

The adrenaline rush that comes with it. We are faced with the challenge of reporting news as it is happening. Sometime, you only have minutes to get to the scene, grab the vital interview or get what's happening on the air. it can be stressful at times, but there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment after you've delivered a meaningful story to those watching at home.

What do you not like about your job?

There are good stories and there are bad stores. Often times, the bad ones are the result of some sort of tragedy like a death. It's sad for me to get to know someone after they are already gone and that usually comes from talking to a mourning family, which is sometime difficult.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I am a Michael Jackson fan. I have every CD, every concert DVD, T-shirts, Christmas ornament ... you name it, I probably got it.

What is the hardest thing you ever did?

Leaving my family to pursue my dream.

What would be a perfect day for you?

My perfect day would include a lot of laughter with family and friends, preferable on the beach or on a boat with not a cloud in the sky. It would end with a stop at Coldstone Creamery. I love to laugh. I love ice cream. I love my family.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?

Never give up. It can be challenging getting to where you want to go, but take it from me, you'll get there. Oh, and buy rain boots and lots of good-looking coats!

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it?

My special with the Jackson family, my investigative reports into some of Alabama's politicians and my first few stories and last few stories to see how far I have come.

Favorites

Favorite book: The Shack

Favorite CBS show: The Amazing Race, Survivor

Favorite dream car: Fully loaded Lexus convertible

Favorite food: Ice cream and Key Lime pie

Favorite hobby: Is laying out by the pool a hobby? Because I really like that!

Favorite Miami Valley place: Young's Dairy Farm

Favorite movie: The Devil Wears Prada, Anchorman and anything with Sandra Bullock

Favorite music: If you scan my iPod, you will find just about everything

Favorite travel destination: New York City, Madrid, Spain and Colorado