Demetria Kalodimos

By

Matthew Chandler

Comm 3350 Assignment 1 Profile

Professor Ellison

February 8, 2020
 Demetria Kalodimos has been regarded as one of the most long-standing

news anchors for WSMV Channel 4 in Nashville, Tennessee. She touched the

lives of many Tennesseans for over 33 years with her talented broadcasting

skills. Many homes in Tennessee and the surrounding areas would

immediately turn their TVs on to see her professional attire and hear her

pleasing news voice. Demetria was truly a dedicated and successful broadcast

announcer for so many years until she received a recent notice of termination

from WSMV. However, Demetria Kalodimos is still considered to be highly

respected and cherished by the people who watched her for many years in their

living rooms each night.

Early Life and Early Broadcasting Career

Demetria Kalodimos was born in Morton Grove, Illinois. Morton Grove is

a suburb of Chicago. She had many opportunities living and growing up in this

particular area of Illinois. Demetria graduated as an honor student from Niles

North High School. In addition, her mother and father were very supportive of

Demetria’s choice to pursue music in college. She was always regarded as

being a talented and hardworking college student

(www.wsmv.com/story/14534111/demetria-kalodimos).

In 1981, Demetria earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music from

Illinois Wesleyan University. She graduated Cum Laude and planned to teach

music education. Demetria lived in Dodds Hall for a few years after she

graduated. Her music degree did not really gain her successful employment, so
she decided to pursue her Masters. Demetria received a Master of Science

degree in journalism. Her degree was earned at The University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign. This university was a big school with lots of connections

in the broadcasting business. Her journalism employment began at WICD in

Champaign, Illinois. In 2007, Demetria Kalodimos was given an Honorary

Doctor of Humane Letters. Illinois Wesleyan awarded her with this doctorate

because she made such an impact in her life and career

(www.wsmv.com/story/14534111/demetria-kalodimos).

Demetria Kalodimos became very interested in pursuing broadcasting

after she had a successful experience working for WICD TV as an

anchor/reporter. WICD is located in Champaign, Illinois. This television station

was affiliated with ABC. The directors of WICD were very impressed with

Demetria’s work ethic and dedication to broadcasting. During her time at the

station, they helped her grow and develop into a professional broadcaster

(wikinetworth.com/celebrities/demetria-kalodimos-age-husband-children-

family-channel-4-net-worth.html).

Highest Point of Career

In 1984, Demetria Kalodimos became employed at WSMV in Nashville,

Tennessee. WSMV-TV is affiliated with NBC and is located on Knob Road in

West Nashville. Demetria went through a nationwide job search because they

were looking for the right female to join Dan Miller at the WSMV news desk.

Once Demetria Kalodimos landed the job at WSMV-TV her life completely
changed as a news anchor broadcaster. Dan Miller and Demetria Kalodimos

worked very hard together to build a successful news reputation for WSMV

(www.wsmv.com/story/14534111/demetria-kalodimos). They were regarded as

a great news anchor team throughout the industry. Viewers from all over

Tennessee and the surrounding areas loved watching Demetria and Dan work

together.

Demetria Kalodimos has won many awards throughout her career. She

received 15 Emmy Awards for her hard work and talent. In 1995 and in 2007,

she won the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award because she was a great

investigative journalist. In 1996, she was voted the Tennessee Associated Press

Broadcaster of the Year. The next award was won in 2005. She was selected as

the favorite local news anchor for Middle Tennessee in the Out and About

newspaper. In addition, Demetria Kalodimos received two national awards from

the American Women in Radio and Television. She also won the Edward R.

Murrow Award for investigative reporting. In 2016, she was inducted into the

Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame for her outstanding achievements

(www.wsmv.com/story/14534111/demetria-kalodimos).

Even though Demetria Kalodimos has won many awards and has had a

successful career, she still enjoys spending time with her husband. Verlon

Thompson has been married to Demetria for many years. He is a singer,

songwriter, and guitar player. They do not have any children, but she has two

cats (wikinetworth.com/celebrities/demetria-kalodimos-age-husband-children-

family-channel-4-net-worth.html).
 Demetria Kalodimos also owns her own production company called

Genuine Human Productions. She enjoys producing documentaries. Her

documentaries have been awarded at the Nashville Independent Film Festival,

Chicago International Film Festival, Indie Memphis, The Berkeley Film and

Video Festival, The Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival, and The Barebones

Festival. She has also been known to produce music videos for Mary Gauthier

and Shawn Camp. (www.wsmv.com/story/14534111/demetria-kalodimos).

On December 21st, 2017, Demetria Kalodimos was told from WSMV that

her contract was up. WSMV-TV Station wanted her to retire at the age of 60

(Lind, 2020). This was completely devastating for her to hear. In an interview

with the Nashville Scene, she said, “I have spent more than half of my life at

WSMV, working long and unpredictable hours, winning awards and ratings,

serving and understanding the community and building trust. It is quite sad to

end a nearly 34 year career the way this company chose to end it, with a letter

left on a desk, no conversation, no face to face meeting, no thanks”

(Bonecutter, 2018). After being treated dirty from the TV station, Demetria

decided to sue for age-discrimination. She has now settled her lawsuit with the

company, but she has not returned to work at WSMV (Lind, 2020).

Why do I feel Demetria Kalodimos is a renowned announcer?

I feel Demetria Kalodimos is a renowned announcer because I have been

growing up watching her on the news for many years. She is my all-time

favorite broadcaster in the United States. She has had lots of education and
practice with being an anchor. Demetria has a pleasing voice and great energy

when she is on the news. I am sad that WSMV took her job from her just

because she was 60 years old. She will always be a legend in my book.
 Bibliography

Bonecutter, H. (2018, January 1). My Two Cents: Demetria Kalodimos Exits

Channel 4. Retrieved at:

https://www.clarksvilleonline.com/tag/demetria-kalodimos/

Lind, J.R. (2020, January 2). Demetria Kalodimos Settles With WSMV. Retrieved

at: https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pith-in-the-

wind/article/21107968/demetria-kalodimos-settles-with-wsmv

2017, August 16. Demetria Kalodimos Age, Husband, Children, Family, Channel

4, Net Worth. Retrieved at:

https://wikinetworth.com/celebrities/demetria-kalodimos-age-husband-

children-family-channel-4-net-worth.html

2017, December 6. Demetria Kalodimos.

Retrieved at:

https://web.archive.org/web/20171212143745/http://www.wsmv.com

/story/14534111/demetria-kalodimos