Maryalice Demler anchors Channel 2 News “On Your Side” at 5:00, 6:00 and 11pm each weeknight alongside co-anchor Scott Levin. The two have served as the station’s main anchors since 2002 and are currently the longest tenured team in WNY. They are a trusted and experienced duo that have been recognized for excellence for both regional and national honors by the Associated Press, the New York Emmys, New York State Broadcasters and the Edward R. Murrow Awards, to name just a few.
Maryalice has also done extensive live reporting for Channel Two covering such notable world events as the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah and World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II in Toronto. She also reported from Rome, Italy during the Papal Conclave that elected Pope Francis and for the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Maryalice also travelled to New York City to provide extended coverage of Pope Benedict’s visit, to Philadelphia for Pope Francis’ visit and to Washington, D.C. for the funeral of NBC Political Analyst and Buffalo native Tim Russert.
Maryalice is a highly sought after featured speaker and emcee, averaging about 50 personal appearances each year. She donates her time to dozens of not-for-profit organizations as a mentor or volunteer. She also served over a dozen years each on not-for-profit boards of directors including Peaceprints of WNY, Kids Escaping Drugs and Tonawandas’ Canal Fest.
Maryalice is an honors graduate of Niagara University with bachelors degrees in both political science and French. She is a native of North Tonawanda and was crowned “Miss New York State” in 1990 and represented the Empire State in the Miss America Pageant.
Maryalice’s broadcasting career began in 1993 as a morning radio personality at WJYE-FM in Buffalo as one half of the duo “Joe and Maryalice in the Morning”. Prior to broadcasting, Maryalice taught middle school French and worked as a special projects director at DeGraff Memorial Hospital.
Broadcasting awards for individual achievement include the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Journalism and two Emmy Awards from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The first was for her in-depth report “Prison and Persistence” in the competitive Crime News category and the second for winning the “News Anchor – On Camera Talent” category for a compilation of her anchoring and reporting work. She is the first Buffalo news anchor to receive that prestigious award. She’s also received an Associated Press Award for Best Interview and over two dozen other nominations for her reporting work. Maryalice has received several awards for community service including Business First’s 40 Under 40 Outstanding Community Leaders and the Niagara University Alumni Founder’s Award and St. Vincent DePaul Award among them.
Broadcasting awards: Edward R. Murrow Regional Award for Investigative Journalism, Buffalo Excellence in Media Awards Finalist, New York Emmy Award winner for a Crime/News report and the News Anchor – On Camera Talent award, over a dozen Emmy nominations for news reporting and on-camera talent work from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, "Female News Anchor of the Year" awarded by Medaille College Communications Department, "Best of Gannett" award for reporting excellence, New York State Associated Press Award for Best Interview, "Best of Gannett" honorable mention for reporting, American Cancer Society Award and the Federal Executive Board Chairman's Award for health reporting.
Service awards & recognition: The Niagara University Dean's Award for service to the Holzschuh College of Business Administration, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center “Nancy Gara Spirit Award” for community service, Buffalo Spree Magazine "Best of Buffalo" honoree, Cheektowaga Police Department Award for Dedication to Youth, voted by ArtVoice readers: “Best Journalist”, "Best News Personality", “Best Dressed TV News Personality", Erie Community College President's Award as Outstanding Communicator & Educational Advocate, Upstate New York Transplant Services' Community Service Award, Kiwanis Club of Lewiston Outstanding Community Service and Leadership in Niagara County Award, North Tonawanda High School Alumni Wall of Fame Inductee, Niagara University’s Founders Award and St Vincent DePaul Award for service to the community and the university.
Volunteer service: Niagara University Board of Trustees, Peaceprints of WNY (Prison Re-entry Services) – Board Member, Kids Escaping Drugs – Board Member, Canal Fest of the Tonawandas - Committee Chair, Miss Buffalo Scholarship Organization – former Executive Director. Frequent guest speaker and emcee at local schools, colleges and events throughout Western New York.
Future goals: To continue to produce award winning journalism that serves the interests of the Western New York community.
Contact Maryalice through email: Maryalice.Demler@WGRZ.com and follow her on Twitter @WGRZMaryalice and Facebook: MaryAlice Demler.