Julie Donaldson

American sportscaster and former model (born 1978)

Julie Donaldson

Donaldson in 2023

Born|  (1978-02-10) February 10, 1978 (age 47)

Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.

Alma mater| University of Florida
Occupations|

* Sportscaster
* television anchor
* host
* reporter
* producer

Employer| WTTG
Term| 2023–present

Julie Anne Donaldson (born February 10, 1978) is an American sportscaster and former beauty pageant participant. She won the 2001 Miss Florida USA pageant before becoming an anchor and reporter for several television networks. Donaldson was the also first female broadcast member of an NFL team, working for the Washington Commanders from 2020 to 2022.

## Career

[edit]

Donaldson was born on February 10, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida. She won the Miss Florida USA title at the state pageant held in Orlando, Florida in July 2000.[1] She had previously placed first runner-up to Kristin Ludecke in the previous year's pageant.[2] Donaldson competed in the Miss USA 2001 pageant but did not place.[3]

In 2006, Donaldson joined SportsNet New York at the network's inception. She made numerous reports from various sporting events covered by SNY and hosted Mets Weekly, a weekly program recapping New York Mets games, trades, injuries, and other features. She spent two years working for the network from 2006-2007. Donaldson worked as a TV host for Miami Heat's Heat TV.[4] Prior to that, Donaldson co-hosted Sports Rap on Fox Sports Net Florida. Donaldson also co-hosted Softball 360 and the PBS series Healthy Body Healthy Mind.

In February 2008, Donaldson was hired to cover Boston-based sports for NBC affiliate WHDH-TV. She left the job in December 2008, seeking a start in a new market.[5] In June 2010, Donaldson was employed as a freelance reporter for Comcast SportsNet's mid-atlantic network, covering sports stories in the Washington, D.C. area.[5] Donaldson was promoted to anchor in September 2010.[6] During her decade-long tenure as a reporter, anchor, and host for NBC Sports Washington, Donaldson covered nearly every team, athlete and major sports story in the region, as well as across national and international sporting events. She also served as host of several NFL shows and contributed regularly to their other football programs and coverage. In addition to her work with NBC Sports, Donaldson also held on-air roles for NBC Olympic broadcasts. She held four Olympic assignments as a news host during the Olympic Games in the 2010s.[7]

In July 2020, Donaldson was hired as the Washington Commanders' senior vice president of media and content,[8] which included working as a host for the radio broadcast crew alongside play by play announcer Bram Weinstein and analyst London Fletcher.[9][10] She was the first full-time female member of an NFL broadcast team and was named as one of the most influential women in sports by Sports Illustrated later that year.[11] Donaldson's contract was not renewed in 2023, with her joining WTTG (Fox 5) in Washington D.C. later that year.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ponte Vedra Beach woman crowned Miss Florida USA". PolkOnline.com. July 16, 2000. Archived from the original on May 9, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2006.
2. ^ "Kristin Ludecke of Eustis Crowned Miss Florida USA 2000". Business Wire. July 10, 1999. Retrieved November 24, 2006.[dead link]
3. ^ "Thoughts of Miss USA 2001". tapmum. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
4. ^ SportsNet New York's Sports News Team profiles Archived 2006-12-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
5. ^ a b Jessica Heslam (July 8, 2010). "Julie Donaldson has Comcast sports gig". Boston Herald. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
6. ^ Dave Hughes (October 2010). "CSN Coverage is growing". Press Box. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
7. ^ "Julie Donaldson joins NBC's Olympic Coverage". Retrieved January 31, 2018.[permanent dead link]
8. ^ "How Julie Donaldson became Commanders senior VP of media and content". Yahoo Finance. December 13, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
9. ^ "Julie Donaldson to Become First Regular Female Member of an NFL Radio Broadcast". NBC 4 Washington. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
10. ^ Harrison, David. "DeAngelo Hall Out, New Washington Legend In For Commanders Radio Booth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
11. ^ SI Staff (October 6, 2020). "The Unrelenting". SI.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
12. ^ Lambert, Ivan (July 27, 2023). "Commanders do not renew Julie Donaldson's contract". Commanders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 5, 2023.

Preceded by

Kristin Ludecke

|  Miss Florida USA
2001  | Succeeded by

Shannon Ford

|
|

* v
* t
* e

Miss USA 2001 delegates

* FL: Julie Donaldson
* GA: Tiffany Fallon
* MI: Kenya Howard
* MO: Larissa Meek
* TX: Kandace Krueger

* v
* t
* e

Florida pageant winners

Miss Florida|

* Ada Williams (1927)
* Rose Marie Magrill (1939)
* Ann Gloria Daniel (1954)
* Ellen Meade (1973)
* Delta Burke (1974)
* Nancy Stafford (1976)
* Cathy La Belle (1977)
* Kim Boyce (1983)
* Molly Pesce (1986)
* Leanza Cornett (1992)
* Ericka Dunlap (2003)
* Shauna Pender (2003)
* Jenna Edwards (2004)
* Allison Kreiger (2006)
* Kylie Williams (2007)
* Jaclyn Raulerson (2010)
* Kristina Janolo (2011)
* Laura McKeeman (2012)
* Myrrhanda Jones (2013)
* Mary Katherine Fechtel (2015)

Miss Florida USA|

* Cheryl Patton (1967)
* Mary-Margaret Humes (1975)
* Shannon DePuy (1995)
* Julie Donaldson (2001)
* Melissa Witek (2005)
* Jenna Edwards (2007)
* Lissette Garcia (2011)
* Brie Gabrielle (2016)
* Génesis Dávila (2017, dethroned; 2018)
* Monique Evans (2020)
* Ashley Cariño (2021)

Miss Florida Teen USA|

* Cristin Duren (1997)
* Breanna Myles (2021)

Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen|

* Mary Katherine Fechtel (2010)

Mrs. Florida|

* Jaclyn Stapp (2008)
* Kellie Lightbourn (2010)

Miss Florida World|

* Clarissa Bowers (2017)

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