Shay O'Connor is thrilled to work for WDSU New Orleans! She has always had a special love for the communications field.

Shay grew up in Uptown New Orleans, where she attended Eleanor McMain High School. Her genuine school spirit and love for her high school community earned her winning homecoming queen, after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

Soon after, Shay attended Xavier University, majoring in Mass Communications.

While at Xavier, Shay wrote for the Xavier Herald. She also interned at WDSU, where she developed even more of a love for journalism and story-telling.

Eventually Shay would graduate from Xavier, working in production and as a fill-in traffic reporter at a local news station, until she was able to earn her first official on air job.

She would go on to work at WJTV 12 News in Jackson, Mississippi, becoming the morning reporter and weekend morning anchor.

Shay covered many stories while in Jackson, including being requested for many exclusive opportunities for citizens to have their stories told. She also had a hand in breaking several news stories, including the Mississippi prison lockdowns, the Kingston Frazier murder trial, the two Pike County teens charged with murdering their mother in 2019, and the two Brookhaven officers killed in the line of duty in 2018.

Still, Shay knew she wanted to come back home to New Orleans.

She couldn't be happier to have the opportunity to report in her hometown, providing a voice for members of the community where she grew up.

In her spare time, Shay enjoys cooking, creative writing, painting and spending time with her family and her puppy Shakespeare. She also loves screaming "WHO DAT!" as she is a HUGE Saints fan.