Adaora Udoji facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adaora Udoji
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at the Montclair Film Festival, photo by Neil Grabowsky, 2019
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| Born | December 30, 1967 United States
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| Education | University of Michigan, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law |
| Occupation | Adjunct professor at NYU |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Adaora Udoji (born December 30, 1967) is an American journalist and producer. She has worked with exciting new technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI). She helps guide the VR-AR Association in New York City and teaches at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. She also sometimes invests in new companies.
Before this, she was a "Chief Storyteller" at Rothenberg Ventures. She also helped lead a media company called News Deeply, which Time magazine once called "the future of news." Adaora has also been on the board of the Montclair Film Festival and advised NBCUniversal. She is known for being one of the few journalists who has worked in major TV news, cable news, and public radio.
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About Adaora Udoji
Adaora Udoji has a mixed background, being of Nigerian-Irish American descent. Her father, Godfrey Udoji, was a chief engineer for the city of Dearborn, Michigan. Her mother, Mary, directed the library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Adaora has lived in different parts of the world, including Africa, Europe, and North America. She is a citizen of both America and Ireland.
Adaora's Education Journey
Adaora Udoji studied political science at the University of Michigan. After working in communications and at a public radio station there, she went to UCLA School of Law. While studying law, she gained experience working for a federal judge and for the I.R.S..
Adaora's Career in Journalism and Tech
Adaora Udoji started her career in journalism at ABC News in 1995. She began as a reporter, helping cover important legal stories like the O. J. Simpson trial.
Early News Reporting
In 1996, she became a producer for ABC News. She covered the presidential election, traveling with the Dole/Kemp campaign. She also reported on the TWA 800 plane crash and worked on a documentary about people on death row.
International Correspondent
In 2000, ABC News made her a foreign correspondent. Based in London, she reported on stories from Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Adaora covered major events like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She also reported on the Vatican, the world economy, and sports events like the British Open. Her reports were featured on shows like Good Morning America and World News Weekend.
Working at CNN and Court TV
Later, Adaora worked as a correspondent for CNN in New York. She covered big stories such as the 2004 presidential election, Hurricane Katrina, and the Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia. In 2006, she became an anchor for Court TV News.
Public Radio and Beyond
In 2008, Adaora expanded into public radio. She co-hosted The Takeaway, a national show produced by WNYC and The New York Times. On this show, she covered her fourth presidential campaign, which included the election of Barack Obama.
From 2013 to 2014, she was the interim president of News Deeply. Adaora has also written about her experiences as a Nigerian woman, her journey beating cancer, and the impact of Hurricane Katrina. She is also an "angel investor," meaning she invests her own money in new companies to help them grow.
In November 2021, Adaora joined the PBS General Audience Programming team as Vice President of Programming & Operations.
Awards and Special Recognition
Adaora Udoji has received many awards for her work in journalism.
Major Awards
- She was part of the CNN team that won a Peabody Award for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina.
- She also helped the ABC News team win a Cine Golden Eagle award for a documentary about death row.
- In 2002, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognized her for her contributions to ABC's reporting on the Afghan War.
- In 2009, Essence Magazine named her one of the 25 Most Influential African Americans.
- She was honored at the World Diversity Leadership Conference at the United Nations in 2007.
- She received the Forty Under Forty Achievement Award from The Network Journal.
Speaking and Advising
Adaora is often asked to speak and share her knowledge. She has been a featured presenter for groups like MIT Solve, Producers Guild of America-East, Games for Change Festival, Microsoft, Panasonic, Girls Who Code, and SXSW. She is known for her insights into technology, media, and storytelling.
