Diane is the co-host of the top rated Morning Show on WTIC-AM News Talk 1080 with Ray Dunaway.
An Emmy award winning TV journalist, Diane Smith produces programs for Connecticut Public TV, based on her very popular series "Positively Connecticut". "Positively Connecticut" searches out the inspiring, warm, funny, and sometimes downright strange stories that give Connecticut its character. Her book by the same name has been a best seller for The Globe Pequot Press. The sequel Absolutely Positively Connecticut was published in 2000. One reviewer called her book Christmas in Connecticut “the comfort gift of the season”. Diane’s latest book is Summer in Connecticut, a full color celebration of the season from strawberry festivals to sailing regattas.
For more than sixteen years Diane was a news anchor and reporter at WTNH TV in New Haven, where her reporting earned her an Emmy award. Diane's documentaries have earned numerous state and national awards. The American Cancer Society has honored her for her work in educating women about breast cancer. The Connecticut Press Club honored her with its Mark Twain Distinguished Journalist of the Year award. Toastmasters International honored Diane with their Communication and Leadership Award.
Diane is active in promoting Connecticut business and tourism. She was awarded the Connecticut Tourism Industry's Media Award for "Positively Connecticut". For "showing Connecticut to the rest of the world in a positive light" Diane was named Person of the Year by the Homebuilders Association of New Haven. The governor proclaimed June 30,1999 as Diane Smith Day in Connecticut. Diane has also been honored with citations and proclamations from the General Assembly and the Mayor of Norwalk.
Diane serves on the board of directors of the IMPAC-CT State University Award for Young Writers, and served four years as the honorary chairperson of “The World of Words” programs held in libraries across the state and sponsored by the Connecticut Center for the Book. Diane served three terms on the board of directors of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University, a non-partisan organization dedicated to helping women attain public office. As a spokesperson for Easter Seals, Diane helped raise over eight million dollars for programs that help people with disabilities live independently.
Charter Oak State College awarded Diane an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2007. In conferring the degree the board of trustees praised Diane’s work promoting and contributing to the quality of life in Connecticut, saying “You exemplify the values contained in the College’s mission, particularly the importance of lifelong learning. Your willingness to give back to the community is a core value of the College which emphasizes the importance of being a good citizen in a global and diverse society.”
Diane graduated with honors from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She lives on the CT shoreline and in West Hartford with her husband Tom Woodruff, an economist.
For more information see Diane's web site at www.positivelyct.com |
