SANDRA ALI
- Award-winning anchor of the morning news on CBS Detroit and anchor/reporter on the Fox News channel, CNN AND CNN Headline News.
-Graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Journalism; earned a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
HOME Birmingham
FAMILY Son Roman, 15; daughter Isla, 12; twin boys, Grant and Tamer, 7
HOMETOWN My parents immigrated to the U.S. from Egypt; I was born and bred in New York City and spent much of my childhood in Egypt, but I’ve mostly lived here since I was 20.
IN THE BEGINNING My first job in television was at the CBS affiliate in Altoona, Pa. I then made my move to the Motor City to WJBK Fox 2 News. While here, I was honored to win awards from the Associated Press and Michigan's Association of Broadcasters. After a move to NBC’s affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio, I returned to Detroit at NBC’s affiliate, WDIV, where I anchored while also working as a franchise reporter, before moving on to CBS Detroit.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A REPORTER? I think I always knew that this is what I would be doing. English was my second language growing up, and after moving to Brooklyn from Egypt, I learned to speak English by watching television. I was mesmerized by the written word and I knew if I was able to write, I would be happy. I think being able to read, write and deliver the news is a natural outlet for that.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE STORIES TO COVER? One of the beautiful aspects of my job is the access I get to all sorts of people who I normally wouldn’t. It’s a privilege. Often, when I’m meeting people, it’s either at their happiest or proudest moment, or their lowest, most heartbreaking time.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS I’ve covered several major national stories. I’ve landed major interviews with then-Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Queen of Jordan and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A LIVE BROADCAST? I wake up at 2:30 a.m. and brew a double espresso. I get dressed, do my morning skin-care routine, including throwing on eye patches, and get out the door as quickly as possible.
In the car, I usually listen to a morning meditation, affirmations or even a prayer. I like having that peaceful drive time. Once in the office, it’s a race to get hair and makeup done and camera-ready by 4:30 a.m. We have a quick briefing with producers of what’s to come that morning; after taping teases and cut-ins at 4:30, it’s time for more caffeine. I pop my vitamins and get onto set at 4:45 to check mics and cameras. Then it’s show time!
HOW DOES WORKING IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY AFFECT YOU? I don’t think we have to work harder, necessarily, but I do think we have to work ‘smarter.’ I learned a long time ago that we can’t change anyone’s expectations or perceptions of us; we can only show up and do our best. As long as I stay true to myself — that’s what matters most.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 25-YEAR-OLD SELF? Wow! I would tell her to buckle up and enjoy the ride. Even when you try to plan out your life as you think it should go, you never truly know where the journey will take you. I’d tell her to prepare for many detours along the way, but know she will always be OK. I would also remind her to cherish the time with family and keep her loyal friends close. Foster friendships and relationships, because that’s what is most important.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE CAREER, PERSONAL LIFE AND PASSIONS? Balance is tricky. As a single mom of four young children, I don’t believe there is truly such a thing as balance. I try to pay attention to my instincts and focus on the area of my life which may need the most attention during that ‘season.’ I navigate by listening to my gut.
HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF GROUNDED AND ENJOY LIFE? I never stop moving. Over the last few years, I’ve turned to exercise almost as a form of therapy. I never used to be able to slow down, but about five years ago, I embraced hot yoga and daily meditation, and now it’s become a way of life. I also love to travel to warmer places, hike and do anything physical outdoors. I’ve run the Detroit half marathon twice!
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP CAN’T-GO-ON-AIR WITHOUT-IT PRODUCTS?
1 Shape tape Under-Eye Concealer!
2 Peter Thomas Roth Gold Under-Eye Patches
3 Skinceuticals Vitamin C-E Ferulic and A-Ha Intensifier
IN HONOR OF VALENTINE’S DAY, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT? Daxton Hotel Lounge and Streetside Seafood. I also love Commonwealth for coffee and breakfast dates.
AMY ANDREWS
-Co-anchor of FOX 2 News Morning; creator of the Amy's Angels franchise, highlighting those making a difference in their communities and beyond.
-Majored in pre-med at Indiana University before graduating cum laude with a BA in journalism from Oakland University; she also graduated from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in Southfield.
-While in school, she worked as a weekend sports anchor at WSYM in Lansing and also interned with the Detroit Lions.
HOME Metro Detroit
FAMILY Daughter, Grace, and two doggies, Jax and Scout
HOMETOWN I was born in Muncie, Ind. My dad worked for the auto industry, so I grew up visiting Detroit before we moved here after high school. I’ve lived and worked in cities across the country and haven't found anywhere I love more than the Motor City. We have the most intriguing, generous, innovative and resilient people living in our community, the best restaurants, the most exciting sports teams, the most beautiful and unique places to visit.
IN THE BEGINNING After college, I worked in Colorado as an anchor/reporter for a small television station, making the switch from sports to news. I remember looking in my rearview mirror as I drove away from home in Metro Detroit thinking, ‘someday, I’ll be back, working for FOX 2 News.’ After stops at then-UPN affiliate KLBC TV2 in Laughlin, Nev., then KSBY 6 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., I was feeling the pull of the Midwest. I landed at WNEM TV5 in the Flint/Saginaw market, then worked up to morning/noon anchor and co-host for the lifestyle show ‘Better Mid-Michigan.’ I finally came full circle in 2011, when I returned to FOX 2.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A REPORTER? I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon but switched majors my junior year. I knew I wanted to be an anchor at FOX 2 in Detroit. I hope to stay at the station until I retire.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A LIVE BROADCAST? I scan all my news sources before I go to bed at night and as soon as I wake up in the morning. I arrive at the station around 4 a.m. I do my own hair and makeup and then check all my news platforms again. Then, I consult my producers and the assignment desk and dive into proofreading three hours’ worth of scripts — which continue changing throughout the broadcast. Next, I head out to the anchor desk, where I'm live from 6 to 9 a.m.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT? I started out in a very small television market where I had to dig up my own stories, shoot them myself, write them and edit them — all before anchoring the newscast. I remember washing my clothes in the sink back then because I couldn't afford to go to the laundromat. I stuck with it and worked my way up to Detroit, one of the Top 15 news markets in the country. Landing a morning anchor job here was my dream come true.
ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY ORGANIZATIONS? Giving back to the community is one of the important things I do as a news anchor and as a human being. I work with C.A.T.C.H. Children's Charity, the Killer Cares Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and National Alliance on Mental Illness among others.
DOES WORKING IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY AFFECT YOU IN ANY WAY? I was taught at a young age to keep my nose to the grindstone and to always put everything I have into everything I do; I feel this mentality has helped me stay focused on what I can control.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 25-YEAR-OLD SELF? To stop being so hard on myself and to put all my fears in God’s hands.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AFRAID ON THE JOB? When I was younger, I would shoot my own stories. I would often hear a situation unfolding on the police scanner and head to the scene myself. Once, I arrived on location in a small town where there weren't a lot of first responders. It was intense. I have the highest respect for our police and firefighters who deal with this on a daily basis.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE CAREER, PERSONAL LIFE AND PASSIONS? I do think you can find balance, but it is challenging — especially as a single mom with such an early bed time and having to go to work in the middle of the night. It requires being extremely organized, the ability to go with the flow and being able to function on very little sleep.
HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF GROUNDED AND ENJOY LIFE? Fun to me is hanging out with my daughter. We love to listen to music and sing at the top of our lungs and go to concerts. I love sports and have completed two full marathons. I’m a huge Tigers and Lions fan, so finding the time to sit back and catch one of our local teams playing is one of my favorite things. I also enjoy volunteering and meeting the people who live in our community.
I’ve been very open about my recent experience with depression and anxiety, which has led to me finally learning how to take care of myself. That includes a lot of prayer, meditation, breath work, mindfulness and hugs from my daughter.
WHO’S AN INSPIRING WOMAN YOU’VE MET ON THE JOB? A few I’ve interviewed in Detroit include Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves, Mama Shu (Shamayim Harris), the Reverend Faith Fowler.
WHAT OTHER PROFESSIONS WOULD YOU DO WELL IN? I think I would be a great therapist.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? I don’t have a large family but so many viewers treat me like I’m a part of theirs, which is an incredible feeling. I love being their voice and telling their stories.
IN HONOR OF VALENTINE’S DAY, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT? I enjoy a nice, laid-back spot for dinner (Shift in Birmingham is one of my favorites). A concert or sporting event before or after makes for the perfect evening!
ALICIA SMITH
-Eight-time Emmy Award-winning Morning Anchor on WXYZ Channel 7 News Detroit This Morning; anchor on TV20 Detroit.
-Studied Broadcast News and minored in Political Science at the University of Georgia’s prestigious Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
HOME Berkley. Before that, I lived in Birmingham for 13 years.
FAMILY Husband Erik Karell, a Commerce Township native; two rescue cats, Max and Mischa, who we adopted from Michigan Humane during the pandemic.
HOMETOWN My dad’s job as a chemical engineer required us to move around a bit. I was born in Milwaukee, Wis., then we moved to Savannah, Ga., Hattiesburg, Miss. and St. Simons Island, Ga. Since WWMT hired me in Kalamazoo, then I landed an anchor position at WXYZ here in Metro Detroit — a job I’ve proudly enjoyed for 18 years, as of last month — I’ve lived in Michigan for 23 years, longer than anywhere else.
IN THE BEGINNING I’ve worked as an anchor/reporter at stations in Georgia and as an intern at CNN in Washington, D.C. I got my first job in Brunswick, Ga., making $14,500 a year; thankfully, my parents allowed me to live at home for a while. I was a ‘one-man-band’ — a reporter who also shoots, writes and edits their own stories, lugging equipment weighing 50 pounds. I moved on to Columbus, Ga., then applied for jobs at more than 60 stations across the country. But 9/11 happened and newsrooms went on a hiring freeze. I got one job offer, at WWMT in Kalamazoo — my five years there changed the trajectory of my life. I fell in love with Michigan, and I eventually landed my dream job, anchoring at Channel 7 — a legacy station in Detroit. What a gift to find a job that became home.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A REPORTER? I’ve wanted to be a reporter since high school. I loved AP English class, reading, writing and grammar. But the broadcasting angle was fueled by my favorite activities: art, watching movies, being a theater kid and my first job at 17 — a disc jockey at an AM radio station. So, making ‘mini movies’ about the community and presenting them on TV sounded right up my alley.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE STORIES TO COVER? The ones about people who are inspiring, who overcome obstacles and spread joy. A Make-A-Wish Kid named ‘Punky,’ who had cerebral palsy, taught me that being in a wheelchair didn’t stop her from playing, dancing and making everyone around her smile. She was like a ray of sunshine.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A LIVE BROADCAST? I wake up at 2 a.m. I read emails from our overnight team for updates or breaking news. Then I watch ABC World News Now while I do my make-up and hair. I listen to news in the car; once I get in the office, I proofread scripts and connect with our producers about our game plan. Make no mistake — this is a team sport.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT? I was honored to be awarded an Emmy from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences four times. After 31 years in a career that my college loan advisor tried to talk me out of, I’m grateful I’ve made it this far.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS I reported from Ground Zero on the 9/11 anniversary in 2002.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN METRO DETROIT? Without a doubt, I love the people. I’ve made some of my best friends here, married a local boy and now have an extended family in Michigan that is so special to me.
I love exploring my favorite hiking trails in the area — the Linden Park Trail, as well as the Park Trail along Quarton Lake. I’ve seen deer, turtles, even muskrats.
I also love how many cities in Metro Detroit have charming downtowns. And it’s been fun watching Corktown explode in recent years. My out-of-town guests now request to go there. Right now, between the red-hot Lions and the record-breaking turnout when Detroit hosted the NFL Draft, it’s really a special time to live here.
ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY ORGANIZATIONS? I’ve emceed Make-A-Wish Michigan’ Walk for Wishes for 15 years. I’ve helped raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan for many years — a few years after I started, my mother-in-law and a cousin were diagnosed with it. I saw first-hand the positive impact the foundation has on families.
Another passion is raising awareness about cancer through the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), the Sky Foundation and other cancer-fighting organizations. Both my father and father-in-law passed away from pancreatic cancer, and my brother died from colon cancer in 2023 at the age of 54. These losses have impacted me profoundly. But one way I’ve tried to cope is by raising awareness so other people can diagnose these diseases early. WXYZ has been extremely supportive any time I’ve asked to tell these stories — including my own skin-cancer journey.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 25-YEAR-OLD SELF? Oh, gosh, I was a stress ball back then. First, I’d tell myself — it will get better. Also, working hard and being kind will always pay off in the end. Don’t let any voices of doubt in your head, or comments from insecure social media trolls in the future, dim your light. When a guy doesn’t treat you with respect, move on! Please wear your sunscreen. And get more sleep!
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS? My Mom. She has touched so many lives in such a positive way and shown me you can reinvent yourself at any age. She was a teenage harpist, a 4-H camp counselor, a history major in college, a wife, a stay-at-home mom, and then she went back to school to get her master’s in counseling and psychology. She’s been a caregiver to her mother, her brother, her sister-in-law, her husband and her son. She has handled incredible loss and overcome personal health struggles, but she still has a zest for life. She’s the sweetest, most selfless soul I know.
WHO’S AN INSPIRING WOMAN YOU’VE MET ON THE JOB? Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter is one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met. I interviewed her in the late 1990s about her decades-long efforts to raise awareness about mental illness. She was ahead of her time, working hard to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness at a time when people weren’t talking about that.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AFRAID ON THE JOB? I was in an SUV with a photographer covering Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 as the storm was making landfall in the middle of the night near West Palm Beach, Fla. All of a sudden, a warehouse right next to us blew apart, and then the back end of our news vehicle lifted off the ground! It was only a couple of seconds — but it was long enough for me to think we might be goners!
WHAT OTHER PROFESSIONS WOULD YOU DO WELL IN? I would have enjoyed working in the ballroom dancing community. Seriously! I got hooked in college and continued taking lessons for years, and it’s a good thing, too. That’s how I met my husband! We were both attending a big-band swing dance at the Masonic Temple in Detroit in 2012, and he asked me to dance. I guess I liked his dance moves.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? When someone tells me how one of my stories impacted them personally, that’s a moment you never forget. It doesn’t happen every day. But when it does, it makes all the endless deadlines, crazy hours and wonky shifts totally worth it.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP CAN’T-GO-ON-AIR WITHOUT-IT PRODUCTS?
1 Murad Environmental Shield Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30
2 Tarte’s Tartelette in Bloom
3 Revlon Colorstay Longwear Lipliner in Raisin
IN HONOR OF VALENTINE’S DAY, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT? Madam at the Daxton Hotel in Birmingham (also a nice anniversary dinner!), 220 Merrill in Birmingham, Mad Nice in Detroit, Chartreuse Kitchen and Cocktails in Detroit, Sugarhouse in Corktown, Amici’s Kitchen and Living Room in Berkley, Berkley Common Kitchen + Cocktails, Woodpile in Clawson, Green Lantern Pizza in Berkley and the Clawson Steak House (Iconic! Dinner and dancing with live music).
RHONDA WALKER
-Morning news anchor at WDIV-Local 4 Detroit for the past 22 years; winner of numerous professional Best Anchor and community service-related awards.
-Earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University.
HOME Born in Detroit, raised in Lansing. I live in Metro Detroit.
FAMILY Husband, Jason Drumheller; proud aunt of 17 nieces and nephews
IN THE BEGINNING I began my career at WJBK Fox 2 Detroit as a traffic reporter, weathercaster, feature reporter and fill-in anchor. From there, I began my position as morning anchor at WDIV-Local 4 Detroit.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A REPORTER? My earliest memories of wanting to be a TV journalist began in my high-school journalism class, where I developed my love for writing and storytelling. My parents say their first sign was in elementary school, when I picked up my brush as a microphone and pretended to report the news.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE STORIES TO COVER? Those people stories that inspire and empower others, stories of perseverance, hard work and resilience. I’ve had a weekly segment called Rhonda’s Brag Book for the past decade: Incredible local kids who excel in sports, academics, community service, the arts and overcoming obstacles are nominated to be featured. Some of those kids are now adults and in careers that they keep me up to date on.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A LIVE BROADCAST? I make sure that I know the stories inside and out and they are accurate, balanced and without bias. Good communication internally and meetings with reporters, producers and writers to go over every detail prior to the show is essential.
On a personal level, being ‘camera-ready’ comes from a lifestyle of taking care of my mind, body and overall appearance. Being on live TV is like the hair and make-up process for a fancier night out or wedding — but it’s every morning at 5 a.m.! Thank goodness I actually find it fun and relaxing to do my hair and make up.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS In 2024, I was honored to receive the Presidential Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service. I also received a letter of recognition from former first lady Michelle Obama.
ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY ORGANIZATIONS? When I started working in TV news and experiencing first-hand the needs of the community, I wanted to hold myself more accountable for making a significant difference. So during a hiatus between news jobs, I began visiting Detroit middle schools and talking to girls about making good choices, learning to love the girl in the mirror, how to be a leader and to help build their self worth. I discovered that my purpose in life was to continue this work in a more impactful way.
I launched the Rhonda Walker Foundation in 2003 and created an award-winning, comprehensive five-year mentoring and college-prep program, Girls into Women. Focused on education, career and personal development, the program helps us reach kids during early teenhood, resulting in higher chances of dreaming bigger, making better choices, getting better grades and being overall happier and more exposed in preparation for college and adult life. Now in our 22nd year, we’ve empowered hundreds of inner-city kids with a 100-percent high-school graduation and college enrollment rate among the 17 graduating classes. We’ve also awarded $1 million dollars-plus in scholarships to our high-school graduates and continue scholarship awards while they are in college.
DO YOU FIND THAT WORKING IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY AFFECTS YOU IN ANY WAY? I am thankful that my parents empowered me to believe there is nothing I can’t achieve if I work hard. I thrived on the notion that ‘I can do anything you can do better,’ and that included boys. I do believe I have to work harder, I have had to be confident — and that takes work, too. So I try to stand out for being likable, smart, knowledgeable and confident — and unafraid to speak out, even if I’m terrified.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 25-YEAR-OLD SELF? Believe in yourself and your abilities, don’t let anyone distract you from your dreams — including your own self-doubt — never settle and dream big, because you can do it!
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS? My role models, hands-down, are my amazing parents — who just celebrated their 61st anniversary in December. Both have advanced degrees and instilled the importance of education. I am the middle child of three. My parents made a lot of sacrifices for us as well as many great choices to create a stable upbringing in a home full of love, support and encouragement. My parents also instilled the importance of helping others in need. It’s a true hallmark of who we are as a family.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AFRAID ON THE JOB? Definitely, whether for my own safety or for people impacted by tragic stories. Covering the 9/11 terrorist attacks very early in my career, as a young journalist, truly shook me. I continue to be afraid for innocent victims of violence.
HOW DOES WORKING IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY AFFECT YOU? My philosophy about situations where I feel I’ve been treated differently because I’m female: ‘Choose your battles.’ I’ve found that what works is to not initially react but rather position myself for the next opportunity without ever going to battle. So yes, I’ve been in these situations, but I’ve worked hard and smart to make sure it didn’t happen again.
HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF GROUNDED AND ENJOY LIFE? I’m an avid golfer and love Michigan golf season — dreaming of it gets me through the winter. Golf is like therapy to me. No matter what kind of day I’m having, the minute I arrive at the golf course, it all goes away. Ten years into my Wednesday Girls’ Night Out Golf League at the Detroit Golf Club, I rarely miss a round from May through August.
WHO’S AN INSPIRING WOMAN YOU’VE MET ON THE JOB? I was able to interview former Vice President Kamala Harris a few times. It’s immensely inspiring to interview barrier-breaking women, especially in male-dominated industries, while also prioritizing giving back to the community. I’ve also interviewed CEOs like Mary Barra, along with politicians like Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congresswoman Debbie Dingle.
WHAT OTHER PROFESSIONS WOULD YOU DO WELL IN? I’ve always loved theater and acting, but was afraid of the instability. I still believe I would be a really great actor, so maybe in my next life I’ll be a movie star.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? All the amazing and inspiring people I work with and get to meet. It is an honor to work at a station with such a storied history and legacy here in Detroit.
It is a 24/7 business and at times you are called upon to take all 24. But when you do what you love, you would do it anywhere, anytime — whatever it takes to get it done with excellence. I think my ability to listen first and seek perspectives from all sides without bias is one of my strengths for the job.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP CAN’T-GO-ON-AIR WITHOUT-IT PRODUCTS?
1 My flat iron
2 Under-eye concealer
3 Lumify eye drops to make the whites of my early-morning sleepy eyes look bright white
IN HONOR OF VALENTINE’S DAY, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT? We love date-night dinners — one of our go-to spots for special occasions is Prime+Proper in Downtown Detroit.
One of my most memorable date nights was on my birthday during Covid, when restaurants were closed for dining in. We got dressed up, drove to Ocean Prime in Troy and brought home carryout. We served it on our ‘good’ china and paired it with a great bottle of wine in our formal dining room with jazz playing. I loved that my husband played along and dressed up in a suit and tie for the evening.