Amy Cherry
meet amy
talented storyteller | effective newsroom leader | laser-focused investigator | Highly MOTIVATED COMMUNICATIONS PROfessional
Amy was Assistant News Director and an award-winning investigative journalist at WDEL 101.7 FM, 1150 AM, and WDEL.com for more than a decade.
Her reporting, which exposed allegations of harassment lodged against a female elected leader in New Castle County Council, won broadcasting’s highest journalistic honor— a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Journalism. Amy’s watchdog reporting also uncovered a sweetheart deal that attempted to turn two politically connected farmers into millionaires at the taxpayers’ expense. Her reporting killed the deal.
Amy’s journalism journey began in Boston, Massachusetts, at legendary heritage news station WBZ NewsRadio 1030, which at the time was owned by CBS Radio. She was hired as a writer while still completing her college degree in Broadcast Journalism. Upon graduation, Amy, a first-generation college student, became the youngest editor in station history. At WBZ, Amy managed a team of reporters while overseeing content and breaking news for deadline-driven AM and PM drives.
With a fervent desire to be on-air, Amy, a Philadelphia native, returned closer to home for an opportunity to get behind the microphone. She was hired as a general assignment and legislative reporter at WDEL. In a few short years, she was promoted to Assistant News Director and spent more than a decade developing strong relationships with the community. At WDEL, Amy managed a team of anchors, reporters, and producers, oversaw content on-air and online while filing Freedom of Information requests and producing compelling, enterprising high-impact content that held government officials accountable, inspired thoughtful dialogue, sparked legislation, and affected change in the community.
As a highly motivated and seasoned communicator with a proven track record in newsroom leadership and management, content curation, and talent development, Amy remains one of Delaware’s most respected journalists. She has diverted her energy and creative talents to higher education. Working in communications for the University of Delaware’s College of Health Sciences, Amy seeks to highlight innovative research and the successes of students, faculty, and staff through powerful storytelling that raises the college’s profile nationally.
Amy is also the Board Chair of the Local Journalism Initiative, working to establish Delaware’s first collaborative nonprofit newsroom. Spotlight Delaware will be dedicated to covering public policy statewide and holding government officials accountable.
In 2023, Amy was named a Delaware Business Times’ 40 Under 40. The DBT40 recognizes young professionals who are making a name for themselves through innovative ideas, business excellence, and community involvement.
Experience
University of Delaware
chief storyteller, college of health sciences | newark, delaware
December 2021 - Present
Strategize dynamic content that highlights innovative research and student, faculty, and staff successes
Seasoned storyteller, writing, researching, and editing content for various platforms for publication, including UDaily and UD Magazine
Advance communication goals of dean, faculty, and staff and amplify CHS’ message and raise the college’s profile nationally to attract prospective students and future health leaders
Provide art direction at photo and video shoots
Manage deadline-driven projects
Ensure social media drives awareness and complements storytelling
Liaise with media to develop stories, organize press and outreach events
wdel 101.7 fm | 1150 am | wdel.com
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR | senior investigative journalist | wilmington, delaware
January 2010 - November 2021
Hired and managed full-time and part-time news staff
Directed news coverage 24/7, both on-air and online, and led daily editorial meeting
Created and sustained strong community relationships to break exclusive, high-impact content
Enterpriser of award-winning, compelling stories/series, spearheaded investigations using FOIA, court records
Led breaking news + special coverage, including COVID-19 collection consisting of 1,200+ uniquely local virus-related stories
Shot video/photos + edited into creative packages for radio + WDEL.com using Adobe Premiere
Strategized targeted content consistent with key demographics, younger demo
Keen and sharp interviewing skills, quick on feet, filed live reports as breaking news demands
Anchored in-studio newscasts while operating board
Directed breaking news coverage
Cultivated talent and mentored reporters to enhance storytelling, organized/expanded on ideas for colleagues
Maintained quality control over on-air and online content
Produced weekly travel segment featuring nationally-recognized guests, formerly produced weekly education segment
Produced and curated content for annual Radiothon for local hospital that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars
Co-developed news magazine-style/issues program to replace talk show
Oversaw audience engagement efforts and implemented forward-thinking strategies for digital, social, and radio
WBZ NEWSRADIO 1030 | CBS RADIO
Editor | Boston, Massachusetts
January 2006 - December 2009
Created and selected content/sound for air in half-hour and 15-minute newscasts for Boston’s #1 news station in a top 10 market during AM and PM drive
·Managed newsroom and assigned reporters
·Developed compelling, enterprise stories for air
Wrote for WBZ’s award-winning AM/PM drive and WBZ.com
Led special coverage, including breaking news and election night coverage, from the editor’s desk
virtual news center
NEWS ANCHOR | Remote position
January 2015 - Present
Anchor and produce newscasts in varying markets: Reno, NV; Daytona Beach, FL; Portland, ME; Altoona, PA, and the Wyoming Radio Network
Research content, write stories
Post content to station’s respective websites
Fill-in regularly for colleagues in any market required
stories that sparked change:
Woman’s car illegally, privately towed from public property in downtown wilmington
Wilmington parking problems exposed
Fighting Fire with Fire series: Protecting the Brave from PFAS Contamination
'Do you need to call your mommy?': WDEL obtains New Castle County confidential workplace harassment report, showing toxic culture
WDEL wins landmark FOI appeal, Delaware AG compels New Castle County Council president to turn over private emails
Harassment claim by Hartley-Nagle's ex-aide costs New Castle County Council $142K; president stripped of supervisory powers
‘understaffed, under-trained, experts say death at bear-area day care was ‘entirely preventable’
VIDEO: E-mails show insider access, questionable appraisal in controversial New Castle County farmland deal
VIDEO | Acquitted inmate says DOJ, DOC should 'feel guilty' after Vaughn riot investigation
New Castle County's secret | Public may never know results of harassment investigation into top cop
Fired, pregnant New Castle County Police officer claims she was on 2nd-in-command's 'hit list'
EXCLUSIVE | New Castle County pulls Property Lockbox app over security concerns
Reading, Writing, and Recovery: The Lifelong Journey of Students Combating Addiction
VIDEO | It's about time: Veterans get one-of-a-kind, life-changing watch repair training in Odessa
skills
Adobe Premiere | Creative Cloud | Adobe Audition
Website CMS: Blox | Adobe Experience Manager | WordPress
News Content Systems: NewsBoss | ENPS | iNews
Social Media Management
Digital Content Creator
As Assistant News Director at WDEL, Amy Cherry accepted the Edward R. Murrow Award for “Overall Excellence.”
interests
News junkie
Affordable travel
French bulldogs
Foodie
Amy and her beloved Frenchie, Stanley, at the Wilmington Flower Market.
Amy outside a WDEL-sponsored event on Market Street in downtown Wilmington
Amy interviews U.S. Senator Tom Carper about a major I-95 transportation project.
Amy takes a turn on the Monster Mile at Dover Speedway.
Amy won the 2018 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Journalism, one of broadcast journalist’s most prestigious honors.
Education
emerson college
B.S. BROADCAST JOURNALISM
CONCENTRATION: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
Graduated May 2007
Awards
NAT’L EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
delaware business times 40 under 40
rADIO & INTERNET NEWS’ 30 UNDER 30
aSSOCIATED pRESS “bEST IN sHOW” AWARD IN MID-ATLANTIC REGION
ASSOCIATED PRESS “BEST REPORTER” 2012-2018, 2020
ASSOCIATED PRESS ENTERPRISE, INVESTIGATIVE, FEATURE REPORTING AWARDS
SPJ TERRY HARPER SCHOLAR
RIAS GERMAN EXCHANGE FELLOW
Contact
Email: ACHERRY@GMAIL.COM
twitter (x): @acherry13
Facebook: facebook.com/acherryreporter
iG: amycherry13
Amy Cherry won the “Best of Show” in the Mid-Atlantic region for her reporting at Associated Press awards in 2013.