Meredith Deliso

Career Trajectory: From Local Reporting to National Breaking News

Meredith Deliso has cultivated a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, evolving from hyperlocal community journalism to high-impact national breaking news coverage. Her trajectory reflects a consistent focus on public safety, legal accountability, and human-centered storytelling.

Early Foundations in Community Reporting (2007–2014)

• Began at Courier Life Publications, producing 6–10 weekly articles on Brooklyn’s arts, entertainment, and civic issues
• Pioneered data-driven neighborhood crime tracking for the Brooklyn Paper
• Developed investigative techniques through education sector reporting for academic websites

Metro Desk Leadership (2014–2019)

"Her launch of amNewYork’s Books page brought a diverse, curated voice to NYC’s resurgent publishing scene" – Newsday Media Group award citation

• Led lifestyle sections at amNewYork while maintaining crime/justice coverage
• Produced Emmy-nominated segment on NYC food deserts for NBC’s New York Live

National Breaking News Expertise (2020–Present)

At ABC News Digital, Deliso has broken stories reaching 25M+ monthly readers. Her 2024 investigation into prescription drug trafficking networks prompted congressional hearings.

Defining Work: Three Signature Articles

2 Men Face Federal Charges After Woman, Teen Drown in Alleged Smuggling Attempt

This 2025 investigation exposed a human smuggling ring operating through Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. Deliso combined:

• Court document analysis of 87 felony charges
• Exclusive interviews with Border Patrol’s maritime unit
• Geospatial mapping of smuggling routes

The piece influenced DHS policy changes regarding water-based border surveillance.

Teens Accused of Causing Wildfire Through Alleged Negligence

Deliso’s ground reporting from South Carolina’s 2025 wildfire:

• Forensic analysis of burn patterns with state fire marshals
• Social media evidence tracing the suspects’ movements
• Economic impact assessment ($42M in damages)

Her work demonstrated how minor offenses can escalate into public safety crises.

Text Messages Reveal Homicide Conspiracy

This 2025 court scoop featured:

• Exclusive access to 300+ pages of evidentiary texts
• Psychological profiling of suspect dynamics
• Timeline reconstruction spanning 17 months

Legal analysts praised its nuanced explanation of conspiracy law.

Pitching Recommendations

1. Lead With Public Safety Angles

Deliso prioritizes stories where legal issues intersect with community welfare. Successful pitches should emphasize:

• Preventable harm metrics (e.g., "This policy gap causes 200+ annual ER visits")
• Geographic specificity (neighborhood-level data preferred)

Example: Her wildfire reporting linked cigarette disposal habits to regional drought conditions.

2. Provide Access to Legal Documents

She values evidentiary support:

• Annotated court filings
• Law enforcement press briefings
• Sentencing memorandums

Case Study: The smuggling piece used unsealed affidavits to trace smuggling networks.

3. Highlight Undercovered Victim Stories

Deliso often amplifies marginalized voices in justice system coverage. Effective pitches:

• Identify systemic patterns vs. isolated incidents
• Include diverse socioeconomic perspectives

Impact: Her 2024 series on migrant worker exploitation led to three state labor law reforms.

Awards and Recognition

• Newsday Media Group Innovation Award (2017): For revitalizing book coverage through author Q&As and indie bookstore partnerships
• NY Press Club Nominee (2018): Recognized for investigative series on NYC’s mental health crisis in homeless populations
• ABC News Spotlight Award (2023): Top performer in breaking news coverage (42 exclusives in 12 months)

5 Essential Pitching Tips

• Deadline-Driven: She often turns around complex stories in <48 hours
• Multimedia-Ready: Prioritize sources with photo/video documentation
• Legal Precision: Avoid speculative language; stick to charged/proven allegations
• Localize National Trends: Show how broader issues manifest in specific jurisdictions
• Follow-Up Protocol: Resend unanswered pitches with new data points after 7 days