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speaker biographies
Speaker
DIANE SMITH
Subjects
media & journalist, tourism
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Diane is the
co-host of the top rated Morning Show on WTIC-AM News Talk 1080 with
Ray Dunaway. An Emmy award winning TV journalist, Diane Smith
produces programs for Connecticut Public TV, based on her very
popular series "Positively Connecticut". "Positively Connecticut"
searches out the inspiring, warm, funny, and sometimes downright
strange stories that give Connecticut its character. Her book by the
same name has been a best seller for The Globe Pequot Press, and the
popular sequel Absolutely Positively Connecticut was
published in 2000. One reviewer called Diane’s latest book Christmas in Connecticut “the comfort
gift of the season.”
For more than
sixteen years Diane was an Emmy award winning news anchor and
reporter at WTNH TV in New Haven. Diane's documentaries have earned
state and national awards from the Associated Press, the Society of
Professional Journalists, the National Commission Against Drunk
Driving, and other organizations. The American Cancer Society has
honored her for her work in educating women about breast cancer.
Diane is active in
promoting Connecticut business and tourism. In 2001 The
Homebuilders Association of Greater New Haven named Diane the
“Person of the Year’ for “showing Connecticut to the world in a
positive light.” She was awarded the Connecticut Tourism Industry's
Media Award for "Positively Connecticut". She has been
called a "goodwill ambassador" for the state.
Diane is a spokesperson for Easter Seals and she has served as the
honorary breast health chairman for the CT division of the American
Cancer Society. Diane is a spokesperson for "Leave a Legacy", an
initiative uniting more than 500 non-profits statewide. She serves
on the board of directors of the IMPAC-CT State University Award for
Young Writers, and on the board of The Women's Campaign School at
Yale University.
Diane graduated with honors from the State University of New York at
Binghamton. She lives on the Connecticut shoreline with her
husband Tom Woodruff, an economist,
Diane has been
awarded the 2002 Mark Twain Distinguished Journalist of the
Year Award by The Connecticut Press Club
Diane is the
honorary Chair of the World of Words events sponsored by the
Connecticut Center for the Book
Diane has been
appointed to the adjunct faculty in the School of Communications,
Quinnipiac University
Accomplishments
· Moderated
numerous congressional and statehouse debates over the years,
broadcast live and on tape.
· A town meeting
broadcast live throughout New England with President Clinton.
· A series of
award winning town meetings on topics like school desegregation and
gang violence, broadcast live on location, with over 100 experts in
the audience/panel on the topic.
· Recently
moderated a panel on behalf of the Small Business Administration for
its Northeast Regional Conference on Women in Business.
· Interviews:
Conducts approximately 6 thru 8 daily on her 4.5 hour live radio
talk show. She has interviewed literally hundreds of Hollywood
stars, authors and the like, both on TV and on radio.
· Anchored two
newscasts a day for more than 16 years, all live, some in studio and
some on location.
· Speeches: Speaks
about 35 - 50 times a year, including the last three years when she
had a book tour each fall
· Featured
speaker at a women’s health conference along with Anita Hill.
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56 Poquonock Avenue
Windsor, Connecticut 06095
Voice: 800-875-2893
Fax: 860-687-1062
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