Sandra Ali, an award-winning anchor and reporter at Detroit's WJBK-TV, has been named primary anchor for WLWT Eyewitness News 5.

Ali has anchored the top-rated weekend editions of "Fox 2 News at 6" and "Fox 2 News at 10," as well as served as a reporter for Fox 2 News, since October 2000. Prior to her work in Detroit, she worked as a reporter/anchor in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Ali graduated cum laude from Syracuse University's prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Journalism. She followed up with a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Ali won the Associated Press award for Best Hard News Reporter in 2002, as well as Michigan's Association of Broadcasters' award for Best Breaking News Reporter in 2003. Ali also landed major interviews with Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Queen of Jordan and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak while in Detroit.

Ali brings a wealth of journalistic experience to the Cincinnati television landscape. She's also an avid theatre fan, voracious reader and speaks several languages, including Arabic and French.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the talented people at WLWT as part of the team," she said. "I'm excited to be part of a news team that cares about quality and integrity and about telling the stories that matter most to you and your family."

Ali also added community outreach is very important. "I'm looking forward to getting out into the community and meeting all the wonderful folks who call Cincinnati and the Tri-State home."

WLWT-TV President and General Manager Richard J. Dyer conducted a national search and said WLWT-TV is thrilled to be bringing the accomplished Ali on board to the Eyewitness News 5 team.

"We're pleased to add Sandra to our team of news professionals," Dyer said. "Her experience providing aggressive local news coverage will be a key addition to the continued growth of our news brand. We're confident that Tri-State viewers will be well served by Sandra on-air as well as through her dedication to community service."

Ali joins Dave Wagner on the WLWT-TV anchor desk August 9.