Hillary Howard

Howard is a writer, reporter and weathercaster who hosts "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show.^[1] She succeeded Mac McGarry in the role in 2011 following his retirement. For 18+ years she worked at Washington DC's WTOP News. Howard co-anchored afternoons with Shawn Anderson after co-hosting a political interview show with former NBC correspondent Bob Kur on Washington Post Radio, a joint venture between WTOP and the Post. Her DC broadcast career began at WTTG/FOX5 where she was the weekend anchor and special projects reporter following her work as an award-winning street reporter and weathercaster. She also worked at WUSA9 and briefly freelanced at ABC7. Besides her news work, Hillary was a writer for the documentary short "Bee the Future," about an English language spelling bee for non-English speakers in Bangalore, India. Howard is also a voiceover artist, story producer and public speaker who was the 2023 master of ceremonies for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Howard is an NYU graduate whose early career was jumpstarted at New York's legendary 1010 WINS where she led a dial-up "newsphone" headline service before shifting to the newsroom.^{[original research?]}

In November 2010, Howard fell and suffered a head injury. Later, a brain scan revealed a meningioma tumor in Howard's brain. Although the tumor was benign, she opted to have it removed.^[2] The surgery was performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in April 2011. The operation was successful, and she recovered. Howard returned to work in May.^[3]