Terri Cope Walton
Terri Cope-Walton is News Director for RTV6-Indianapolis, a position she has held since January 2013. Before taking the helm, Cope-Walton served as Assistant News Director for RTV6, and prior to that she oversaw the station’s community affairs efforts.
An award-winning journalist, she started her broadcast career in radio, as a talk show host for WDAO-AM, in Dayton, Ohio. Her first position in news was as a producer/reporter for WHIO-AM, also in Dayton.
After transitioning into television, she worked as a Producer, Assignment Editor, Senior Producer, Community Affairs Producer and Public Service Announcement Director. She has a passion for news and storytelling that has inspired a career of more than 20 years.
Under her leadership, the RTV6 newsroom has received multiple first-place awards from the Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association, the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists, Emmy awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2013 and 2015, RTV6 was recognized by the Indiana Broadcasters Association as Station of the Year. In 2017, the Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association recognized RTV6 for Outstanding News Operation.
Cope-Walton has received numerous personal awards including, the Ball State University Indiana Woman of Achievement Award (2017), the Indianapolis Minority Business Magazine “Champion of Diversity” Award (2015), the Indianapolis Business Journal “Women of Influence” Award (2014), the Who’s Who In Black Indianapolis recognition (2014), the Center for Leadership Development Minority Achievers Award (2014), the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame Induction (2014), the Indiana Black Expo Minorities in the Media “Behind the Scenes” Award (2011), the Indiana Broadcasters Association’s Spectrum Award for
Community Service (2008) and the Indiana Broadcasters Association’s Service to Indiana Award (2008).
Cope-Walton has a B.A. in English Literature from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and is a proud lifetime member of the Central State University General Alumni Association. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, and serves on the School Commission for St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Indianapolis, Indiana. She holds memberships with the National Association of Black Journalists, the Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Lower Great Lakes Chapter, the Radio, Television & Digital News Association and she is a former Fellow for the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism.
Cope-Walton believes in serving the community and has dedicated herself throughout her career to assisting various non-profit organizations with tutorials on the most effective ways to share information about their services and events. She serves as a volunteer and advocate for the Riley Children’s Foundation, the American Diabetes Association and Coburn Place Safe Haven. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated.