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From the moment she landed her first television job as a teen talk show host in high school by winning a competition, Dara has connected to people and searched for stories to tell on any platform. Always focused on diversifying her journalistic reach, she has thrived working across sectors. “From the start, I was interested in not just one beat but, in varying subjects,” she said. “Journalism was my way to explore, bond, and inform. I studied my craft and worked whatever available assignment and, even covered stories on my own time to become a complete sponge and orator of information and not be boxed in but, instead one who can contribute on multiple levels in my uber-competitive field.”
Dara has earned a reputation for building and fostering relationships across industries. Her fearless approach to connecting with top officials has landed her exclusive leads, on-and-off camera, with some of the biggest newsmakers that have afforded her a top-notch source list and impressive gets.
“Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”
– Maya Angelou
“The ability to lead a happy life is made, not found”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others.”
– Michelle Obama
“If you mind your own business, you’ll stay busy all the time.”
– Hank Williams, Jr.
“The worst thing to call somebody is crazy. It’s dismissive.”
– Dave Chappelie
Dara Kennedy is one of broadcast news’ most versatile and skilled journalist. She has been a part of Emmy-winning production teams and has anchored and reported on news, business & politics, sports, and entertainment globally for networks in London, the Middle East and home in America.
Dara has worked and studied around the world as a tv journalist having traveled to five continents. She holds visas in Africa, China and the United Kingdom and travels the globe as a speaker and advocate for diversity.
As on-air talent and a speaker, Dara has earned a reputation for delivering stories in a relatable manner and fostering relationships across industries which have afforded her exclusive leads and sources on-and-off camera, and interviews with top newsmakers.
Most recently as the first black woman host and producer of a daily news-driven NPR-affiliate market show, Dara tackles stories from the Purdue Pharma Opioid crises with federal and state lawmakers, the pandemic debts, deficits, and funding programs with State Treasurers and Attorney’s General to qualified immunity with the ACLU and gubernatorial candidates to the LGBTQ+ health disparities across the country. Dara wrote, produced, and hosted, ‘Generation Vote,’ a primetime special focused on youth and minority groups during the Biden-Harris, Trump-Pence presidential election for sister network station and PBS-affiliate market show. She also hosted political coverage during the run-up to the election with guests from President Obama’s administration to prominent educators and nationwide analysts. She was on the ground in Delaware on election night and in the nation’s capital for post January 6th reports and President Biden’s inauguration. Prior to joining public media, Dara was recognized for her role as the first women to fulltime host the ‘NFL on Sky’ show in its decades-long existence, Kennedy joined the network in 2015 from the London-based broadcaster Arise News and replaced the shows only host after his 15 years in the role. She anchored the live show from its flagship London studios, live on-location at Wembley Stadium, in America from games, the NFL Draft and sometimes in front of live studio audiences.
Dara’s versatility has been showcased on many occasions. She captured interviews and produced a Nat-sound piece while following George Floyd New York City protests including his family-led Brooklyn memorial and peace march.
Dara was also on the ground for the vigil of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabia embassy in London; Charlottesville anniversary protests in the nation’s capital where she landed an interview with reformed Skinhead and neo-Nazi cult member Jason Downward.; Brexit votes at Parliament, the Brett Kavanaugh hearings on Capitol Hill and has covered four of Tom Brady’s historic seven Super Bowl wins.
Dara has anchored on public and commercial media and been a part of segments for the James Corden show, Tyra Banks and Nickelodeon. Early on, she had articles published in Slam magazine and local newspapers and was featured in Radio and Record as a breakout star, in NY Woman before its close as “One to watch” and has been published in Forbes, SLAM and various newspapers and seen on PBS, FOX, CBS sports, and E! domestically.
She began her work in London with the Tomson Reuters global media program before freelancing in the UK and Europe as a foreign correspondent covering business and Africa news. Her duties in-studio included news anchoring, updates and reports on emerging markets and continent-specific economic and political news. While abroad, Kennedy studied finance and emerging markets in London and Asia, and has moderated or paneled for global diversity conferences, spoken at universities, and led topical conversations on finance, equity and inclusion and professional youth development.
She also served as the face of a newly developed business show for a French-English language network where she wrote, produced, and hosted an hour-long primetime documentary covering President Obama’s historic U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington, D.C.
Her interviews with continent Presidents and world leaders boosted ad sales for the unprecedented primetime network presentation. Prior to her transatlantic move Dara spent seven overall years with Fox Sports and its BTN affiliate as a sideline reporter traveling each week for assignments and to the Chicago studio to host a myriad of programs and digital outputs. While at NESN she anchored the flagship nightly news show, covered breaking news on Boston teams and was the New England Patriots beat reporter. Having joined Al Jazeera English as the only black, on-air woman anchor at launch, she has held White House security clearances and worked out of the Doha, Qatar, and Washington D.C studios.
Early on Dara was recognized in Radio and Record trade magazine as a breakout star being the only black female on the waves covering the daily NHL beat.
Her profile was featured amongst the trailblazer story of Suzyn Waldman. Her media career began as a teen when she landed her own talk show and pursued journalism across print, tv and radio. She has been heard on the airways over the course of years on evening drives, sports rounds up, music and commentary including on television networks’ radio, SiriusXM and MSG radio while a studio anchor covering its teams.
Her professional career began as an unpaid intern on CNN’s international desk before being selected as a production assistant at ESPN. before landing her first 0n-air TV job in small market U.S.A. before eventually anchoring in America’s top market, New York City and globally, abroad.
Dara uses her public platform to help create opportunities for others. She founded the Sports Finance Summit with a mission to assist young entrepreneurs navigate life’s hefty wealth decisions. Some of her corporate appearances include Morgan Stanley, Imperial College of London, Amway, the NBA, the United Nations and JP Morgan Chase.
Her education includes a joint program in international finance and trade at the London School of Economics and Peking University in Beijing, China, and Purdue University. Aside from her media work, Dara is passionate about mentoring and inclusion and was a Global Citizen for the Nelson Mandela: 100 initiatives in South Africa.