Adaora Udoji
Encyclopedia
Adaora Elizabeth Udoji is a Nigerian American
and was the co-host of The Takeaway
with John Hockenberry
until May 2009. Previously, she was a host on Court TV
. She is a former correspondent for CNN
and a former foreign correspondent for ABC News based in London. Currently, she is based in New York.
, and mother Mary, former director of Washtenaw County
Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, Udoji holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Michigan
and a Juris Doctor
degree from UCLA
. She also holds dual American and Irish citizenship.
in 1995, as an off-air reporter working for Cynthia McFadden covering the OJ Simpson criminal trial
and other legal stories. In 1996 she became an associate producer for ABC News covering the presidential election, the TWA 800 crash, as well as working on documentary about death row. The network named her a foreign correspondent in 2000 where she was based in London reporting international stories covering Africa, the Middle East and Europe. She also contributed to Good Morning America
, World News Weekend and ABC Radio. In 2003, Udoji joined CNN, where she served as a New York based correspondent covering stories from the 2004 presidential election, Katrina, the West Virginia Sago mine disaster, among many others for the network's television and radio outlets. And on April 25, 2006, it was announced that she had signed with Court TV News as an anchor.
(from Pakistan), the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
(from Israel, Palestinian territories and Jordan) and events surrounding Pope John Paul II
from Vatican City
. She has also covered many sporting events, such as Wimbledon
, The British Open
and the Tour de France
. In the United States
, Udoji covered the United States
presidential elections from 1996–2008, he 1996 TWA Flight 800
incident and the OJ Simpson criminal
and civil trials. She was part of the team that won a CINE
Eagle Award for an ABC prime time documentary about Death Row
in 1997.
in and around New Orleans, Louisiana
for which the network won a Peabody Award. She was also among the team at ABC News awarded a Cine Eagle statute for an ABC News documentary on death row. Udoji was recognized by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for cocntributions to ABC's coverage of the Afghan War in 2002. In February 2005, Udoji was named as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. 2009 named One of The 25 Most Influential African Americans by Essence Magazine. 2007 Honoree for the World Diversity Leadership Conference hosted by the United Nations. Awarded by Wall Street magazine, The Network Journal, the Forty Under Forty Achievement Statute. Udoji has delivered presentations as keynote speaker/moderator for national organizations including the ACLU, The White House Project, National Council for the Research on Women, UCLA School of Law, New York Women in Communications among others.
of NBC News
. She left The Takeaway
shortly after its launch to spend more time with her newborn baby. Udoji and Allen live with their daughter and two Norwich Terriers in New Jersey.
Nigerian American
Nigerian Americans are citizens of the United States of America who are or descend from immigrants from Nigeria. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, approximately one million Nigerians have immigrated in to the United States....
and was the co-host of The Takeaway
The Takeaway
The Takeaway is a morning radio news program co-created and co-produced by Public Radio International and WNYC-New York Public Radio with editorial partners the BBC World Service of the United Kingdom, The New York Times, and WGBH Radio Boston of the United States...
with John Hockenberry
John Hockenberry
John Charles Hockenberry is an American journalist and author. A four-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Peabody Award winner, Hockenberry has worked in media since 1980....
until May 2009. Previously, she was a host on Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
. She is a former correspondent for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and a former foreign correspondent for ABC News based in London. Currently, she is based in New York.
Early life
Born to father Godfrey Udoji, former chief engineer for the city of Dearborn, MichiganDearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, and mother Mary, former director of Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, Udoji holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. She also holds dual American and Irish citizenship.
Reporting career
She joined ABC NewsABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
in 1995, as an off-air reporter working for Cynthia McFadden covering the OJ Simpson criminal trial
OJ Simpson trial
OJ Simpson trial may refer to:* O. J. Simpson murder case, Simpson's 1995 criminal trial for murder** O. J. Simpson murder case#Civil trial, the civil trial against Simpson for wrongful death, stemming from the murder case...
and other legal stories. In 1996 she became an associate producer for ABC News covering the presidential election, the TWA 800 crash, as well as working on documentary about death row. The network named her a foreign correspondent in 2000 where she was based in London reporting international stories covering Africa, the Middle East and Europe. She also contributed to Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, World News Weekend and ABC Radio. In 2003, Udoji joined CNN, where she served as a New York based correspondent covering stories from the 2004 presidential election, Katrina, the West Virginia Sago mine disaster, among many others for the network's television and radio outlets. And on April 25, 2006, it was announced that she had signed with Court TV News as an anchor.
Assignments
Major international assignments that Udoji has covered include the 2003 Iraq War (from the Persian Gulf and Iraq), the 2001 war in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
(from Pakistan), the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
(from Israel, Palestinian territories and Jordan) and events surrounding Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
from Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
. She has also covered many sporting events, such as Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, The British Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
and the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Udoji covered the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
presidential elections from 1996–2008, he 1996 TWA Flight 800
TWA Flight 800
Trans World Airlines Flight 800 , a Boeing 747-131, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 20:31 EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. At the time, it was the second-deadliest U.S...
incident and the OJ Simpson criminal
O. J. Simpson murder case
The O. J. Simpson murder case was a criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California Superior Court from January 29 to October 3, 1995. Former American football star and actor O. J...
and civil trials. She was part of the team that won a CINE
CINE
CINE is a consortium formulated to depict American life and thought realistically for a global audience. CINE recognizes and fosters the highest quality of non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual film competitions....
Eagle Award for an ABC prime time documentary about Death Row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
in 1997.
Awards and recognition
She participated as part of a CNN news team covering the aftermath of Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in and around New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
for which the network won a Peabody Award. She was also among the team at ABC News awarded a Cine Eagle statute for an ABC News documentary on death row. Udoji was recognized by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for cocntributions to ABC's coverage of the Afghan War in 2002. In February 2005, Udoji was named as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. 2009 named One of The 25 Most Influential African Americans by Essence Magazine. 2007 Honoree for the World Diversity Leadership Conference hosted by the United Nations. Awarded by Wall Street magazine, The Network Journal, the Forty Under Forty Achievement Statute. Udoji has delivered presentations as keynote speaker/moderator for national organizations including the ACLU, The White House Project, National Council for the Research on Women, UCLA School of Law, New York Women in Communications among others.
Personal life
In 2002, she married fellow television journalist Ron AllenRon Allen (journalist)
Ron Allen is an American journalist for NBC News where he is a correspondent for many of the network's news programs. He lives in New York/New Jersey metropolitan area and was based in Europe for more than a decade.-External links:*...
of NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
. She left The Takeaway
The Takeaway
The Takeaway is a morning radio news program co-created and co-produced by Public Radio International and WNYC-New York Public Radio with editorial partners the BBC World Service of the United Kingdom, The New York Times, and WGBH Radio Boston of the United States...
shortly after its launch to spend more time with her newborn baby. Udoji and Allen live with their daughter and two Norwich Terriers in New Jersey.