April Woodard, WTKR Lauded On 25 Years of Media Excellence

Special to the New Journal and Guide
BALTIMORE, MD

Hampton Roads media personality April Woodard was recently lauded for her consistent commitment to her media career of over 25 years.

Woodard, who currently is host of Coast Live, a daily lifestyle show on WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia, earned the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter for her excellence in media (broadcasting and education). Only 230 people in the entire country are inducted with this honor. Former WTKR anchor Barbara Ciara pinned her.

Woodard joins industry professionals who have helped shape the broadcast industry and continue to influence its future. These leaders have devoted more than a quarter-century for Silver Circle or half-century for Gold Circle to the broadcast industry and have made significant contributions to the National Capital Chesapeake Bay community.

“This is a tremendous honor that is often compared to a ‘Hall of Fame’ within our Chapter and the entire Academy,” said President Adam Longo. “Each inductee will join the ranks of other past inductees, including Sam Donaldson, Gordon Peterson, Judy Woodruff, Ted Koppel, Bob Schieffer, Maureen Bunyan, and Jim Vance,” he added.

With the induction of the 2024 honorees, the Silver Circle totals 279 and the Gold Circle totals 28.

In addition to her television work,  Woodard serves as a Professor of Journalism and Special Assistant to the Vice President of Advancement at Norfolk State University, a role that allows her to give back to the same institution where her father once served as the long-time president.

Woodard’s career spans over two decades. Perhaps most notably, she spent 15 years as a correspondent on the nationally syndicated newsmagazine Inside Edition. During her tenure, she covered some of the most significant events of our time, including the 9/11 attacks, the Miracle on the Hudson, and the 2008 Republican campaign. Her investigative prowess was on full display during her coverage of the Bernie Maddox trial and a compelling special report on homelessness, where she spent two days living on the streets of New York City to shed light on the struggles of the homeless population.

Woodard’s body of work extends across various media platforms, including social media, broadcast television, and the web. She has also covered major cultural events like The Oscars, the NAACP Image Awards, the BET Awards, BET Honors, and Black Girls Rock.

As a creator, Woodard produces a web-based show Conversations in Chaos, where she explores contemporary issues with depth and insight. Her expertise has made her a sought-after commentator on major networks.

She has been honored with numerous awards, including The Trailblazer Award, The Urban League’s Community Service Award, and The YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award.

She and her husband, Adrian Woodard, the founder and pastor of FavorNation Church, are parents of two children, Adrian II and Alek.