Sydney
Simone

I’m Sydney Simone, a Midwest girl now thriving in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Growing up, sports, food, music, and media were my outlets. Today, I still love watching WNBA games, making playlists, skating, biking, and traveling whenever I can. Those early experiences shaped me into a creative, caring, and relatable journalist with a passion for storytelling across multiple platforms.

​

Let's start from the beginning... 

I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to East Lansing when my mom pursued her doctorate at Michigan State University. After my grandparents passed away, we relocated to Waukegan, Illinois — closer to my mom’s hometown of Gary, Indiana. I spent middle school and part of high school in Illinois before graduating from Merrillville High School in Indiana.

I earned my bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 2019, studying Mass Communication, Spanish, and Organizational Leadership and Supervision. At Purdue, I joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Zeta Theta Chapter) and the National Association of Black Journalists, both of which strengthened my leadership and storytelling skills.

​

Where am I today? 

I’m a weekday morning news anchor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at Louisiana First News (WVLA NBC 33 & WGMB FOX 44). I love bringing stories that matter to life and connecting with the community every morning.

​

I started my broadcasting journey in 2019 at KTAL NBC 6 in the Shreveport–Texarkana area, covering everything from breaking news to sports across the Four States region. After that, I spent time as a reporter and multimedia journalist at CW39 Houston before moving to Baton Rouge in 2022 to join the WVLA/WGMB team as a Weekend Anchor and Reporter.

Along the way, I’ve been honored with the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters (LAB) Prestige Award for Reporter of the Year in 2024 and LAB’s Young Television Professional of the Year in 2025.

​

Outside of the newsroom, I’m the creator and host of The College Playground, a show where I interview college athletes about their journeys and dreams. What started as a radio show in 2019 has grown into a podcast and YouTube series, all produced by Sydney Simone Entertainment, LLC.

​

Why journalism? Let me tell you... 

To me, journalism is artistry. Everyone has a story, and I feel a deep responsibility to uncover and tell those stories with care and integrity. My goal is to build trust through transparency, authenticity, and impactful storytelling, creating meaningful connections with the communities I serve.

In Summary
Broadcast media is my home. While I love news, I also have a deep passion for entertainment, music, sports, and digital content. My goal is to continue growing as a multimedia journalist and one day host a daytime show or anchor for a major network.

​

My name is Sydney Simone, I’m an award-winning journalist, news anchor, reporter, and visual storyteller who’s passionate about communicating, connecting, and living my purpose every day.

​

Strengths: Skilled visual storyteller, written and oral communicator, entertainer, public speaking, filming, editing, leading, making connections, and building relationships.