Sophia Perricone is a long way from her native Orange County, California.
And a Lake Erie beach, however impressive, is a long way from the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, where Perricone spent her childhood. But the newly minted weekend anchor for WTOL-TV, Channel 11, loves being in Toledo.
“I love Toledo,” said Perricone. “I was at NBC24 from 2019-2021 so I know the area and I know the community so its wonderful to be back. Everyone has been so welcoming and so kind and so helpful so I just really feel like I’ve landed in the right place.”
Perricone became interested in television journalism at an early age. As a kid, Perricone was fascinated by the interview process and the pace of broadcasting through watching local news and various TV programs like Ellen .
“(Television journalism) has been my dream since I was 12 years old,” said Perricone. “Growing up I would spend a lot of time at my grandmother’s house and she would always watch Ellen and I would love watching her interview people. My mom would always have the news on when she was making dinner and I remember thinking ‘That’s exciting, it’s fast paced news’ so this has always been my dream and I love that I’m living it.”
Perricone attended Pace University in New York City where she majored in communications.
“Being the 18-year-old I was, I wanted to get as far away from home as possible, so I spent my four years at Pace University,” said Perricone. “They didn’t have a journalism or a broadcast journalism there, so I majored in communications and then interned at so many amazing newsrooms in the city. I got to work with some incredible reporters.”
In her spare time, Perricone enjoys baking, working out, and playing tennis. “I’m not very good but I enjoy it,” she said.
She was hired by WNWO-TV, Channel 24 right out of college and worked there from 2019 to 2021. Once her two year contract was up, Perricone signed a contract with KVVU-TV in Las Vegas. While she initially moved to Nevada to be closer to her family, Perricone ended up not enjoying her time in Las Vegas so she left her contract early ... but not before winning an Emmy Award for her work covering the cannabis industry in the Las Vegas area.
“I left early in my contract but the station was really understanding and gracious about that,” said Perricone. “I felt very isolated in Vegas.”
In March of 2022, Perricone went back to New York City to take a job at her alma mater Pace University, working for the marketing and communications team for the university’s business school. But Perricone’s boyfriend, a Toledo native, missed his hometown and Perricone also found herself missing the Midwest. So she applied for an open anchor position with WTOL and to her delight, got the job.
“The timing was just perfect,” said Perricone.
Perricone has been with WTOL for about a month.
“I’m happy to be back and telling stories in the community and making sure people’s voices are heard,” said Perricone. “The folks I’m working with at WTOL are just so nice and kind. It’s amazing how friendly people are here.”
And the anchor has won many friends in the local news market and otherwise in the Toledo area.
“I believe this was on Sophia’s last few days in Toledo. I was disappointed she was leaving as she was and is an exceptional journalist,”105.5 FM radio host Eric Chase said, prefacing a 2021 episode of his podcast where Perricone was the guest of honor. “I realize we are a transitional media market for news people, but that doesn’t soften the blow when we lose quality people, some whom have become good friends. At least of the social media variety.”
Chase said he learned a lot about Perricone’s love for the area during his time talking to her.
“Sophia’s interest and passion for Toledo was not just for show,” he said. “She, like many others in her line of work, really did form a bond with northwest Ohio. I suppose I was right…because she’s back!”
And not only is she back, but the Toledo news market is better for having her skills in the area again. In the description of the 2021 podcast, Chase said Perricone was “one of the area’s BEST reporters,” and he clarified that statement three years later by emphasizing it is the skills that shine through.
“I think I should qualify ‘best’ with a bit more context,” Chase said. “She really is that skilled, but when I first got to meet her during a rally in Ottawa Hills mid-spring of 2020, I was astounded to find out how old she was and that that was her first TV news gig. She had the poise, delivery, and gravitas of someone who’d been in that role for a decade.”
Perricone credits her loving family with her overall success.
“I have the best parents ever. They’ve been so supportive over the past 27 years of my life, from career changes to college decisions. I know they would love for me to move home one day but I’m just so happy out here (in Toledo).”
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