Samara Sodos

Samara Sodos joined the News Channel 8 team in 2000, just in time for the highly dramatic "hanging chad" Presidential election. It was a perfect introduction to the chaotic world of Florida news.

Sam came to Tampa from WSLS in Roanoke, Virginia where she worked as a reporter, anchor and producer. She started out as an overnight writer for WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Throughout her career, Sam has received regional and national Edward R. Murrow Awards and Society of Professional Journalism Awards for both investigative and feature stories. The Florida Bar also recognized her work for highlighting failures in the state legal system.

Before her TV news journey, Sam experienced a taste of government and politics, working in the press office of a U.S. Senator in Wisconsin. She also lived in Israel, writing for The Jerusalem Post. During her time in Virginia, she taught a course on the Holocaust to high school students.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Sam received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is not ashamed to be called a "Cheesehead."

Sam enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching football. She dabbles in art, is a movie trivia buff, and practices bikram yoga. Sam is a proud resident of downtown Tampa.