Return to Bio Index
Janet Davies joined ABC 7 Chicago as a reporter in August 1984. In addition to her feature and entertainment segments, which appear on ABC 7 News, Davies is the host and executive producer of 190 North a multiple Emmy award winning Chicago-based entertainment and lifestyle program. 190 North airs quarterly on ABC7. Debuting in July of 1998, 190 North is the longest running magazine program in Chicago broadcasting history. She also hosts "Janet Davies Interviews" a web chat show with iconic Chicagoans.
As an ABC 7 reporter, Davies has covered general assignment and feature stories. She has traveled the world delivering such diverse stories from the British Royal Family to Israeli reaction in Jerusalem concerning the 1991 Madrid Conference. She has also reported from the Academy Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards, The American Music Awards and International Fashion's Prêt a Porter in Paris, France. In addition, she has been the co-anchor of the ABC7 Weekend Morning News.
Besides 190 North, her other local program duties include co-host/executive producer of ABC 7's live broadcast of Countdown Chicago on New Year's Eve and ABC 7's coverage of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival plus, hosting the Columbus Day and Pride Parade broadcasts.
Davies came to ABC 7 from WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, Pa., where she co-hosted the number one rated local talk show 'A.M. Philadelphia'. In addition, she co-produced, researched and wrote for the show while providing features for the news department. Previously, Davies hosted/produced a half-hour magazine show, Front Page Saturday Night, at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio and hosted "Columbus Alive" on Warner Cable's Qube-TV broadcasting's first interactive cable talk show.
Davies began her broadcasting career at Cincinnati's WKRC-TV as general assignment reporter and noon news weather anchor. She eventually became weekend anchor and city hall reporter for Eyewitness 12 News. Davies later was tapped to serve as co-host and executive producer for Cincinnati's PM Magazine.
Nominated for 59 regional Emmys, Davies has captured 13 awards for hosting, producing, writing and reporting. In addition, she has won three Silver Dome Awards from the Illinois Broadcasters Association for her work on 190 North and Special Event Productions. Her 1986 children's special on safety won an Iris Award from the National Association of Television Program Executives. The documentary, "Re-discovering a Black Pioneer's Dream", which Davies wrote, produced and co-hosted was asked to be in the permanent collection of The Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois.
Davies is the Chicago Ambassador for CARE, the global poverty organization. She serves on the Corporate Board of Director's for the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and is the co-host for the Hospital's annual Children's Memorial Network Champions Broadcast. Davies also works with the Leukemia Research Foundation, The American Cancer Society and the Cradle, an adoption agency based in Evanston, Illinois. She also finds time to serve on her youngest child's School Advisory Board.
In 2009, The Chicago League of Theatres presented Davies with their prestigious Tribute Award. Davies is also the recipient of the DaVinci Award for outstanding media from the Order Sons of Italy and the Dante Award from the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, Davies was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned a B.A. degree from Miami University in Ohio, where she majored in communications and minored in history.
Davies, her husband and children reside on Chicago's North Side.
Return to Bio Index