Danielle Elias

News Center 7 Reporter

BIO

I joined WHIO-TV in May 2007 as a Reporter and Anchor. Since joining this news team, I have covered a wide range of stories from political speeches by Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, to severe weather, to breaking news with stand-offs, house fires, shootings and car crashes across the entire Miami Valley.

I came to News Center 7 from Atlanta, Georgia. During my 6 years at CNN, I covered both international and domestic stories, from the on-going conflict in Iraq, to the sentencing of Saddam Hussein, to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and the autopsy results of Anna Nicole Smith’s death. I interviewed a wide range of influential people, including the U.N. Ambassador to Darfur and the highly-acclaimed rapper/producer Akon.

I received my undergraduate degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and Music from Emory University in Atlanta and studied at the Lebanese American University in Lebanon. I speak Arabic and conversational French.

I sing opera and am an avid music fan of all genres. I also enjoy working out. I have family in Washington D.C. and northeast Ohio and have spent much of life in this state. I’m excited to be living in the Dayton community.

Q & A

Where were you born? Washington D.C.

Where did you grow up? Washington D.C.

What was your favorite TV show then? At the time, probably anything on MTV

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be? A doctor

How might someone have described you in high school? Well-rounded

What was your first job? Baby-sitting my neighbors’ children

What was your first job in television? Video editor

What do you like about your job? Every day is a new challenge, a new experience

What do you not like about your job? Is there such a thing?

What might people be surprised to know about you? I’ve been singing opera for over 15 years

What is the hardest thing you ever did? This questionnaire =)

What would be a perfect day for you? Spending time with family and friends

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business? Keep an open mind and be prepared to work hard

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it? It would be a combination of my work here at WHIO-TV and my prior work at CNN.

Favorites

Favorite book: I find myself enjoying autobiographies immensely.

Favorite CBS show: The Late Show with David Letterman

Favorite dream car: Dodge Viper or Lamborghini

Favorite food:Dark chocolate and salads

Favorite hobby:Anything related to music

Favorite Miami Valley place:It’s tough to choose between the Oregon district and The Greene… both are great hotspots around town!

Favorite movie:Anchorman

Favorite music:Too many favorite genres to narrow it down

Favorite travel destination:Hard to narrow that down… Atlanta, D.C., New York, Miami, Akron, Italy, Lebanon, Belgium…