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Ama Daetz (US Journalist )
Ama Daetz is a name Bay Area viewers know and trust. Every weeknight, she anchors the 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts on ABC7 KGO-TV in San Francisco — one of the most watched local news stations in California. She is not just a face on television. She is a journalist who has spent decades earning that seat.
Her career did not begin in a big city. It started quietly — writing scripts, producing segments, and editing footage at a small station in Fresno, California. From there, she reported in Amarillo, Texas. Then Kalamazoo, Michigan. Then Detroit. Each city was a stepping stone. Each role made her sharper, stronger, and more prepared for what came next.
She joined ABC7 San Francisco in October 2011. Since then, she has covered stories that moved the entire nation — including the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt in Watertown and the aftermath of the Aurora, Colorado theater shooting. She has stood in the middle of breaking news and delivered it with calm and clarity. That is not easy. That takes years of training and a genuine commitment to journalism.
Her work has not gone unnoticed. She is an Emmy Award winner, recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her reporting. Away from the camera, she is a wife and a mother. She is married to John Seymour, a sports reporter at the same station. Together they are raising a daughter.
| Full Name | Ama Daetz |
| Date of Birth | March 17, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | San Jose, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (White and Black) |
| Profession | Journalist, News Anchor, Reporter, Producer |
| Employer | KGO-TV / ABC7 News, San Francisco, California |
| Education | B.S. Broadcast Journalism, Loyola Marymount University (2001) |
| Career Start | Writer, Producer and Editor — Local Station, Fresno, California |
| Joined ABC7 | October 2011 |
| Notable Coverage | Boston Marathon Bombing Manhunt — Watertown; Aurora, Colorado Theater Shooting (2012) |
| Award | Emmy Award — National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Reporting |
| TV Appearance | The Mentalist (2010, 2011) — appeared as a reporter in two episodes |
| Marital Status | Married to John Seymour (Sports Field Reporter, ABC7 KGO-TV) — September 29, 2012 |
| Children | One daughter (born October 2017; name not publicly available) |
| Father | Denny Daetz — Retired Teacher; Kennedy Center Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award (2013) |
| Sisters | Effie Daetz, Ekua Daetz |
| Estimated Net Worth | $1 million – $5 million (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Estimated Salary | $45,000 – $110,500 annually (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Residence | San Francisco, California, United States |
Early Life and Education
Ama Daetz was born on March 17, 1979, in San Jose, California. She grew up in San Jose with her father, Denny Daetz, and two older sisters — Effie Daetz and Ekua Daetz. Her father later remarried Laura Lee Daetz in January 2001, and Ama grew up alongside three stepsiblings — Julie Young, Rona Pehrson, and Jennifer Martin. Sadly, her stepmother Laura passed away in a car accident in December 2015. Shortly after, her grandmother Virginia Daetz also passed away. It was a deeply difficult time for the family.
Her father Denny was not just a teacher. He taught social studies, economics, and computer programming at Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District. In 2013, he was honored with the prestigious Kennedy Center Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award for his lasting impact on students and the community. He also founded the Akwaaba Foundation, a non-profit focused on world peace and sustainable economic development.
Academic Journey
For her higher education, Ama enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles — a respected institution with a strong journalism program. She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. Those years shaped her understanding of storytelling, reporting, and the responsibility that comes with being a journalist. Her foundation was strong from the start.
Father's Influence and Family Legacy
Denny Daetz was more than a teacher — he was a man of purpose. He studied at Yale, Stanford, and Santa Clara University of Law, earning a Master’s in Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. He dedicated his career to shaping young minds, and his impact was recognized at the highest level when he received the Kennedy Center Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award in 2013.
Beyond the classroom, Denny founded the Akwaaba Foundation — a non-profit organization that educates people about world peace and sustainable international economic development. The foundation also raises funds for Simpolicon, an educational computer program that simulates economic development, environmental sustainability, and international political relations.
Career
Every big career starts somewhere small. For Ama Daetz, it started in Fresno, California. Right after graduating from Loyola Marymount University in 2001, she took on a behind-the-scenes role — working as a writer, producer, and editor at a local station. No glamour. No camera. Just hard work and a desire to learn the craft from the ground up.
That experience was valuable. It taught her how a newsroom really works — not just how to read a script, but how a story is built from nothing. From Fresno, she moved in front of the camera. Her first on-air reporting role came at the CBS affiliate in Amarillo, Texas. A new city. A new challenge. She took it without hesitation.
Rise Through Local News Markets
Amarillo was just the beginning. She then moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she worked as a reporter and anchor at News3. From there, she landed a role at the NBC affiliate in Detroit, Michigan — a significantly larger market. She spent two years in Detroit, growing her presence and sharpening her on-air delivery.
Each move was intentional. Each city pushed her further. After Detroit, she joined the FOX affiliate in Sacramento, California — bringing her back to her home state. Sacramento was her final stop before the biggest opportunity of her career came knocking. Her reputation across multiple markets had been built. She was ready.
ABC7 KGO-TV San Francisco and National Coverage
In October 2011, she joined KGO-TV ABC7 in San Francisco as a weekday co-anchor. It was a major milestone — ABC7 is one of the most watched local news stations in California. At present, she anchors the 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts every weeknight.
Her work at ABC7 has taken her beyond the studio. She covered the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt in Watertown — a story that gripped the entire nation. She was there in Aurora, Colorado, reporting in the days after the devastating movie theater shooting in 2012. These were not easy assignments. They required composure, sensitivity, and journalistic strength.
Her television presence also extended beyond news. She appeared as a reporter in two episodes of the primetime drama The Mentalist in 2010 and 2011 — a rare crossover between journalism and scripted television.
Her excellence in reporting earned her one of the most respected honors in broadcasting — an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Reporting. It was recognition that reflected years of dedication, discipline, and a genuine love for journalism.
Ama Daetz Net Worth and Salary
Anchoring the evening news in a major market like San Francisco is not a small job — and the pay reflects that. At present, Ama Daetz earns an estimated annual salary ranging between $45,000 and $110,500. It is important to note that these are third-party estimates. No official figure has ever been publicly confirmed by her or ABC7. For context, the average salary for a news anchor in San Francisco, California ranges from $58,528 at the 25th percentile to $115,534 at the 75th percentile — with top earners making over $156,900 annually. Given her experience, Emmy Award recognition, and over a decade at one of California’s most watched stations, her compensation is likely on the stronger end of that range.
Building a career across multiple states and markets for over two decades adds up. Her estimated net worth currently sits between $1 million and $5 million. This has been accumulated through her work as an anchor, reporter, producer, and editor — spanning stations in Fresno, Amarillo, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Sacramento, and now San Francisco.
Numbers only tell part of the story. What truly defines her financial and professional standing is the career behind it. Over ten years at a top-market ABC affiliate, national breaking news coverage, a primetime television appearance, and an Emmy Award — these are not common achievements in local news.
Personal Life and Family
Some love stories begin in unexpected places. For Ama Daetz, it happened in a newsroom. After joining ABC7 KGO-TV in San Francisco, she met John Seymour — a sports field reporter at the very same station. They worked side by side, shared the same professional world, and eventually built something personal together. The couple got married on September 29, 2012, in San Francisco. It was a meaningful moment — two journalists, both committed to their craft, choosing to build a life together in the city they both call home. At present, they continue to work at the same station, which makes their bond both personal and professional.
In August 2017, she shared some deeply personal news — live on air. She announced her pregnancy on ABC7, letting Bay Area viewers be part of the moment. Her Instagram became a warm window into her journey, filled with pictures of her growing baby bump. Her daughter was born in October 2017. She returned to work in March 2018 after maternity leave. The name of her daughter has not been made public — a private decision that deserves full respect.
Hobbies, Interests and Values
Away from the camera, she is someone who believes in balance. She enjoys cycling, hiking, and exploring everything the Bay Area has to offer. Music and nature are close to her heart. Family comes first.
She is also a passionate sports fan — cheering for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL, the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, and the San Francisco Giants in MLB.
In June 2020, she showed rare vulnerability on social media. She shared a photo of herself moments before breaking down on air while covering the Black Lives Matter movement — writing honestly about the emotional weight she carried that week. It was a deeply human moment from a journalist who clearly feels the stories she tells.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Ama Daetz
Key questions answered about the ABC7 News anchor and her public life
Born on March 17, 1979, in San Jose, California, she is known for anchoring the 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts. She is also an Emmy Award winner recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Reporting.
She grew up in San Jose with her father Denny Daetz and two older sisters, Effie Daetz and Ekua Daetz, before eventually relocating to San Francisco to pursue her journalism career.
The couple met after Ama joined ABC7 and got married on September 29, 2012, in San Francisco. Both continue to work at the same television station, making their bond both personal and professional.
She announced her pregnancy live on air on ABC7 in August 2017 and shared updates on Instagram throughout her pregnancy. She returned to work in March 2018 after maternity leave. Her daughter's name has not been made public out of respect for her privacy.
This estimate is based on her two-decade career as a journalist, anchor, reporter, and producer across multiple markets including Fresno, Amarillo, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Sacramento, and San Francisco. It has not been officially confirmed by Ama Daetz herself.
She joined ABC7 in October 2011 and at present anchors the 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts every weeknight. ABC7 KGO-TV is one of the most watched local news stations in California.
Her strong academic foundation in broadcast journalism prepared her for a career that spans multiple news markets across the United States, ultimately leading her to one of California's top local news stations.
Based on industry benchmarks for experienced news anchors in San Francisco, her estimated annual salary ranges from $45,000 to $110,500. This figure is an industry estimate only and has not been confirmed by Ama Daetz or ABC7 officially.
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