Member for
9 years 11 monthsMary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Her career is most notably defined by her 29-year tenure at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) in Detroit, where she broke barriers as the first and only female television reporter in the male-dominated field of automotive journalism.
Mary Conway's Background and Early Career
Conway’s passion for the automotive industry was rooted in her upbringing in Janesville, Wisconsin, where her father ran a gas station near a Chevrolet plant. Witnessing firsthand how the local economy fluctuated with the fortunes of General Motors, she brought a unique, personal perspective to her reporting in Detroit.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she worked at WIFR in Rockford, Illinois, and WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before joining WXYZ-TV.
Key Contributions and Achievements
- Automotive Expertise: She was the primary automotive reporter for Channel 7, leading coverage for major events like the North American International Auto Show, the Detroit Grand Prix, and the Woodward Dream Cruise.
- Global Reporting: Her versatility extended far beyond the auto industry. She covered thousands of stories, including the visits of Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II, the legacy of Rosa Parks, and the administrations of every U.S. president from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama.
- Professional Impact: She was known for her reliability and expertise; colleagues often noted that for major breaking news, the primary question for management was simply how quickly Conway could get on a plane to cover it.
This video captures Mary Conway's induction ceremony into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, featuring her own reflections on her 30-year career and the impact of journalism.
Her induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes her as a "reporter's reporter" who advanced the legacy of a free and responsible press through decades of dedicated service to the Michigan community.