Home PeopleHoboken Girl of the Week Hoboken Girl of the Week: Leigh Scheps {Inside Edition Reporter}

Hoboken Girl of the Week: Leigh Scheps {Inside Edition Reporter}

by Briana
Attain Medspa
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You might have seen this week’s Hoboken Girl of the Week during your evening ritual of laying on the couch and catching up on some good ol’ TV {we’re not judging}. That’s because our HG of the Week, Leigh Scheps, is the senior digital reporter for Inside Edition + broadway contributor for Entertainment Tonight {and fellow Hoboken resident}. Read on to learn all about her life on and off the screen, plus some of her local faves:

hoboken girl of the week leigh scheps inside edition

About Leigh

I am the senior digital reporter for the national news program, Inside Edition. I report on a wide range of stories from breaking national news to heartfelt proposals, funny gender reveals and cute animals. My role entails finding viral and trending stories before any other media outlet and telling that story through video in a unique way and often with comedic flair. I pitch stories, research, interview, write and voice them in an audio before handing it off to an editor to cut for the website and partners like AOL, Yahoo, MSN, and Little Things.

Hello Hydration Sidebar

As a Broadway contributor for Entertainment Tonight, I’ve had the opportunity to interview some amazing celebrities such as Lin-Manuel Miranda Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), Jason Mraz, Nick Kroll, and John Mulaney for feature profiles on the show’s website.

JK Therapy

I have had one foot in the door in Hoboken since my 21st birthday when my friends and I celebrated at Bahama Mama’s {editor’s note: ah, memories}. My boyfriend, now husband, Matthew brought me further into the Hoboken when he moved here in 2008, and this is where I always came back to when returning from my work in other cities. Now at 31, I feel as if I’ve lived here for the last 10 years, while it’s technically been 5 years full-time. My husband and I are both huge supporters of small businesses in the area and have eaten in just about every restaurant in town.

Hobbs Inc

What is interesting about my story is that I had to move out of town in order to come back to NYC and make it to national news. I started as a one-man-band reporter in the Bronx for News 12, then moved away to Binghamton and Fort Myers to work as a local TV news reporter in order to move up in my career. At one point, I commuted from Hoboken to Philadelphia for a job as a reporter at Fox29 and covered plenty of Hoboken stories while reporting for FiOS1 News.

On Her Inspirations

My father was my biggest supporter and always the first to share my stories with his friends because he was so proud of me. He passed away in 2011 while I was living in Binghamton. But every story I do, it’s in his honor. He always told me and believed I’d be the next Katie Couric.

Goals + Passions

My goal at Inside Edition is to tell more heartfelt, stories about everyday people that make you think and care about them. As for ET, I’d love to continue reporting on Broadway from writing features to turning compelling videos about the stars. My dream is to interview my idol, Bernadette Peters, since she is starring in Hello, Dolly! but my college professor told me not to peak too soon.

AXIS School of Dance

A Typical Day in the Life

I am one of the first five people in the newsroom at 7AM every day. I scour the headlines for a top, hard-hitting news story to write and report on first for Inside Edition. Then the stories get lighter as the day goes on unless there is breaking news. I turn about four stories a day before leaving Inside Edition around 3:30 and head for the gym. I use Classpass so I take fitness classes anywhere in the city and Hoboken depending on the day and what my evening plans are. Some days after Inside Edition, I will then interview someone for ET whether it is in person or on the phone. Then I go to my gym class, go home, cook dinner and start working on my ET stories around 7PM before I hit the sheets around 10PM. It sounds like as long day, but I love my job and it’s so much fun!

hoboken girl of the week leigh scheps inside edition

The Highs + Lows

The challenges are making sure we stay sensitive to a lot of serious stories I cover whether it’s a big crime story or a heartbreaking medical story about a child in the hospital.

The highs are walking into work each day and not know how it will unfold. If you have a bad day, you can start fresh with a clean slate the next day because the stories are always changing and different.

See All of Our Hoboken Girl of the Week Features HERE

Highlight of Career {So Far}

Most recently, it was interviewing Lin-Manuel Miranda for ET. I think he is probably the biggest star within the Broadway industry right now. But the most rewarding stories for me are the ones that make an impact on the subject it’s about and the audience. I covered a story about a man from New Jersey who was searching for a kidney donor at Disney World using a tee-shirt with his phone number on it. He eventually found a match after his story went viral.

What a Day Off is Like

I am at the gym early on the weekends, then love Hoboken brunch and seeing a Broadway show. In the summer I am at the beach in Deal or Asbury Park.

Advice to Someone Trying to Pursue the Same Career Path

You have to move away and start in a small market where you’ll only make $20,000 a year. Also, don’t forget to always say “yes” and show up to work on holidays and during snow storms.

hoboken girl of the week leigh scheps inside edition

Hoboken + Jersey City Favorites

What is your favorite restaurant in Hoboken?

Otto Strada

What is your favorite boutique in Hoboken?

Alba

What do you love most about Hoboken?

I love how I can walk all over town multiple times a day! The Manhattan skyline isn’t so bad either 😉

What is your favorite thing to do in Hudson County?

Eat!

hoboken girl of the week leigh scheps inside edition

Read More: The Best Nail Art Techs in Hudson County

How long have you lived and/or worked in Hoboken?

5 years full-time, but on and off for 10 when my boyfriend (now husband) moved in.

What is your favorite outdoor place to spend time in Hoboken?

Up the hill at Stevens College

What is your favorite place to work out in Hudson County?

SLT

Where do you go out with friends in the area?

Sorrelina, Cellar 335, Union Hall, La Isla….everywhere in the Hoboken, JC area with a good cocktail and dinner scene.

What is something you think needs to come to Hoboken or Jersey City? (ex. Type of restaurant, business, etc)

Kosher-style deli and a great pool for Hoboken residents.

Want to be featured or nominate someone as an upcoming Hoboken Girl of the Week?

Email hello@hobokengirl.com about your/her story.

Have you joined our Facebook group yet? Request here to gain access to even more local tips, and connect with fellow Hudson County residents.

RMA

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