Amy Wood Biography
Amy Wood is an American journalist working for WSPA as an anchor at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. and 7NEWS at noon. She joined the station in November 1990 and has served the station for more than 3 decades.
Amy Wood Education
Wood joined the State University of New York at Oswego in 1983 when she finished her studies at Fox Lane High School. In 1985, she transferred to American University where she graduated with a Bachelor Of Arts degree in Communications.
Amy Wood Career
Wood works for WSPA as an anchor at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. and 7NEWS at noon. Aside from anchoring and reporting at WSPA, she hosts podcasts on ten platforms including an E-Blog called The UPbeat that she produces when she’s free and a “TVAmy News Nugget” mini newscast on her YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram Live. Her work on Instagram was featured in 15 Seconds of Fame. Since 1995, she has given a voice to her voice through her reality Check reports.
For 13 years, Wood worked off-screen streaming live on Facebook Live which she still does including special live stream talks from home. Frequently, she speaks in the community about the influence of social media and how to get access to air out stories in this digital era. She also works as an MC, panel discussion leader, and debate moderator for many community occasions.
In 2008, she created CW Live Chat which the industry noticed. Her interactive work was featured in RTDNA Communicator Magazine, Broadcasting and Cable Magazine, and “Live Local Broken News: The Re-Engineering of Local TV.” Business Black Box Magazine named her among its list of six Trailblazers.
Wood’s career started in Western Minnesota at KSAX. There, she broadcasted blizzards and breaking news in Western Minnesota. She believes in the power of social media bonds and maintains that it’s a vital tool in a journalist’s career. She taught and spoke about her innovative work at the Paley Center for Media in New York City, the Poynter Institute, and The Reynolds Journalism Institute at Mizzou.
WSPA
Wood works for WSPA as an anchor at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. and 7NEWS at noon. She has anchored the late news for 27 years, solo anchored the 10 p.m. news for almost 15 years, and has been on 7 News at 7 for a decade.
During her time at WSPA, she has covered several stories including a special report on domestic violence called “South Carolina’s Shame.” The report earned her a first-place Associated Press Series Reporting Award. She delivered an exclusive broadcast of the initial war with Iraq in “On The Frontline.” For the coverage, she connected with commander Stephen Twitty from Chesnee, S.C. via the Internet.
The most unforgettable story in her career was the Charleston Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting. She broke the story on the CW at 10 and anchored WSPA’s funeral broadcast a few days later. She also navigated the viewers during the morning of September 11, 2001, where she gave local wall-to-wall broadcasts and a helpline.
Wood anchored WSPA’s Emmy-awarded broadcast on Susan Smith who drowned her sons. She also covered the boy’s burial. Moreover, she reported the Carolina Crusaders documentary and was a producer on a mission trip to Russia. She won a first-place award from the Associated Press for her production.
Awards and Community Work
During her career, Wood has won several awards. For instance, in 2016, the South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association named her Anchor of the Year for her interactive anchoring. In 2012, she also won that same South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association award. The Radio and Television and Digital News Association of the Carolinas nominated her for the Anchor of the Year Award. She has also won back-to-back reporter and personality awards in the media category in the Best of Spartanburg competition.
Adoption holds a special place in her heart as she was adopted. Thus, she does the “Amy’s Kids” segment, telling stories about foster children waiting to be adopted. Additionally, she spearheaded the South Carolina Council on Adoptable Children and was named Amy Adoption “Advocate of the Year” in 2007.
Wood is devoted to the community, working with many local charities and occasion annually. The South Carolina Jaycees granted her the state Distinguished Community Service Award in 1999 for her efforts in the community. She serves as a Rotarian in Greenville and is a fellow from the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative, Spring 2020 class.
Amy Wood Age
Wood has not yet disclosed the year she was born. However, she might be in her 50s. Wood celebrates her birthday every April 9th as evidenced by her Twitter bio “Born April 9.”
Amy Wood Height
Wood stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 6 inches.
Amy Wood Family
Wood was adopted. Both her adoptive parents passed away. Her adoptive father passed away in January 2014 as evidenced by her Instagram post on January 19, 2023, captioned “Been thinkng about my dad. Miss him. 9 years gone. Seems like yesterday…”
Her adoptive mother passed away in May 1995 as evidenced by her Instagram post on May 13, 2023, captioned “So I wanted to take a moment today to thank my mom for her unending…As an adopted child I never felt any thing but pure unconditional love from her. I was hers and she was mine. And despite losing her 28 years ago, I still feel her with me every day. Happy Mother’s Day, mom 🌸”It is not if Wood has any siblings.
Amy Wood Husband
Wood married Mike on April 22, 1995. On April 22, 2024, she posted a video of them on their wedding day and captioned “29 years ago, Jack Roper…was playing this song on his saxophone as Mike and I said I do!…” Mike works as a magistrate judge in Spartanburg County. The couple has three daughters including Brianna and Gracie. On September 25, 2023, she posted them on her Instagram account and captioned “Love our girls so much! National Daughter’s day!”
Brianna was born on May 7, 1996, and is 28 years old as of 2024. On May 7, 2024, she posted a video of them celebrating and captured “A wonderful celebration as Brianna hits birthday 28! Happy birthday, my love! So proud of you!” Gracie celebrates her birthday every April 2nd as evidenced by her Instagram post on April 2, 2023, where she posted a picture of Gracie in front of a birthday cake written Happy Birthday Garcie and captioned it “It was a beautiful day ❤️.”
Amy Wood Net Worth
Wood has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which she has earned through being a journalist.
Amy Wood Salary
Wood earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
Amy Wood Daughter Racist
Wood’s daughter, Gracie received backlash in January 2022 after two videos of her using homophobic and racist comments on Instagram went viral. In the videos, she commented that all Africans should die and that the African continent should be blown up.
Gracie also likened all Africans to monkeys, saying that they should grow a tail and ears, and serve in the woods. She even used slurs like N**** and F*g. Further, she said that Mexicans and Middle Easterns want to kill people. Moreover, she said that German are Nazis and that expressed her support for them since they hate gay people and Black people. She also said that she supported Hitler and made a Nazi-like salute. She referred to him as “a pretty quality man” and commended his suicide.
At the time of the videos, she was a senior at Oakbrook Preparatory School in Spartanburg. The school said that the comments made did not reflect its mission and core values via its Facebook account on January 13, 2022. They also said that they were disappointed by the behavior of those involved in the video.
Apology
Wood apologized on Garcie’s behalf and said that her comments were disgusting and vile via her Facebook account on January 3, 2022. She also said that she was baited when intoxicated at the party to say things that clash with the way she has led her life. Further, she said that Gracie has served as a champion for rights and equality at her school. She then asked for forgiveness for those who were offended by Gracie’s remarks.
Gracie later issued an apology saying that there was no excuse for what she said and that she was not raised like that. Also, she said that she had met with people from the communities she had offended and people have reached out to mentor her. Gracie said that she hoped she could become more educated and be a better human being through their guidance and her self-accountability. In addition, she said that stopped attending her school and will not be allowed to walk at graduation.
Bruce Wilson, an Upstate activist of Black Lives Matter and Fighting Injustice Together, said that he had spoken with Gracie’s parents and that they were apologetic. He also said that he had no desire to see Woods punished for her daughter’s comments.
Amy Wood WSPA
Wood is working at WSPA where she works alongside other famous anchors and reporters including;
- Elise Devlin
- Collin Riviello
- Christine Scarpelli
- Pete Yanity
- Todd Summers
- Grant Roberts
- Christy Henderson
- Dan Bickford