Her Story
About Victoria
Victoria Prieto is an award-winning Executive Producer with more than 15 years of experience in broadcast television news, currently leading production of Florida Tonight on Fox out of Fox 13 Tampa Bay. She conceived and launched the program herself, shaping it into a nightly, statewide celebration of Florida's quirky charm, complete with interactive viewer segments, local and celebrity interviews, and a growing social media following she built from the ground up. Her career has taken her through newsrooms across the state, including WSVN Channel 7 in Miami, WPLG Miami, and Bay News 9 (now Spectrum Bay News 9), where she rose to Executive Producer of Special Projects and played a key role in launching a national newscast for Spectrum's National News hub in Tampa Bay. Throughout her career, Prieto has built a reputation for steady editorial judgment, creative risk-taking, and a talent for large-scale live production, having overseen major specials covering elections, hurricanes, town halls, and public health crises. Her work has earned her recognition as a two-time Emmy Award winner, along with numerous honors from the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists' Sunshine State Awards, and the Green Eyeshade Awards. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Communications from Nova Southeastern University, where her passion for storytelling first took shape through campus publications, and she remains an active member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the National Association of Asian American Journalists. Beyond the newsroom, Prieto is guided by a deep commitment to community, authenticity, and curiosity, values she credits to a lifelong love of reading and a wealth of experience gained through travel. She gives back through volunteer work with Feeding Tampa Bay and local animal rescue efforts, including the Pug Rescue of Florida and Georgia, and remains passionate about supporting causes tied to animal welfare, children, and the environment. Selected as a featured honoree by Influential Women for 2026, Prieto continues to champion genuine, community-driven storytelling, encouraging the next generation of journalists to stay curious, work hard, and lead with authenticity both on and off camera.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Victoria
01What do you attribute your success to?
I credit much of my success to a lifelong habit of reading, which began when I was young. My dad daughter me to read my first words from the Wall Street Journal! I think he had hoped I’d be an investment banker rather than a journalist, but it all worked out in the end. That early exposure combined with the life lessons I picked up through travel, shaped the way I learn and approach my work. I also owe a great deal to strong mentorship, particularly from my former bosses and coworkers, along with consistent hard work, repetition, and a willingness to take creative risks in building programming that truly connects with viewers.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to have genuine passion for this industry and to go in prepared for hard work, including moments when the industry may not give back as much as you put in. Stay focused on community, remain curious, read as much as you can, and never stop asking questions. I always encourage being authentic and letting real human connection guide your work rather than chasing a polished but fake presentation, because people respond to genuine connection far more than to something that feels manufactured.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see is the pressure that social media creates to appear overly polished, along with a broader sense that we've lost some of our people-centric practices as an industry since the pandemic. At the same time, I see real opportunity in creating community-focused, feel-good content that helps reconnect with viewers and stands apart from content that's purely sensational or overly produced for digital platforms.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community, authenticity, curiosity, and hard work are the values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally.
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