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Kristen, TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGO-TV: Advize Career Interview
From high school spark to ABC7 News KGO-TV anchor, Kristen's journey highlights the power of passion and relentless pursuit of a dream.
Political science studies met practical journalism experience through strategic internships and "begging" entry into grad courses, leading to a cross-country trek to land the dream job.
The role, far beyond teleprompter reading, demands factual accuracy, confident delivery, and calm poise amidst breaking news.
Days are a whirlwind of news consumption, show preparation, and constant multitasking, fueled by a love for the live, performative aspect.
Crucial skills include strong communication, authenticity, calmness under pressure, a grasp of grammar, and genuine empathy.
The greatest rewards lie in witnessing history, meeting inspiring individuals, and contributing to informed decision-making, even amidst challenges like distressing content and budget constraints.
Aspiring journalists should be curious, risk-taking, and proactive, building a demo reel through multiple internships and networking aggressively, while being prepared for personal sacrifices and embracing multimedia skills.
Social science majors, armed with a versatile degree, can thrive by casting a wide net, remaining open-minded, and creating opportunities for growth in any field, remembering that experience and connections often outweigh perfect grades.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kristen Sze
TV News Anchor
ABC7 News KGO-TV
UC Berkeley
Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Immigrant
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Career Path Of A TV News Anchor At ABC7 News
Kristen's journey to becoming a news anchor at ABC7 News KGO-TV began with a high school visit to a TV station, sparking a passion for broadcast journalism's blend of news and performance; this led to pursuing political science at UC Berkeley while "begging [her] way" into graduate journalism classes and interning at local media outlets to gain experience and build a demo reel. After graduation, a first job in a small town in upstate New York was followed by moves to larger markets before eventually landing the dream job at ABC7 in San Francisco, starting as a reporter and working their way up to anchoring three shows a day.
Main Responsibilities of a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGOTV
Kristen, an ABC7 News anchor, explains responsibilities extend beyond simply reading from a teleprompter, emphasizing the importance of adding context, ensuring factual accuracy, and presenting stories with "confidence and clarity and with comfort." Maintaining poise is also crucial, especially when breaking news arises mid-broadcast, requiring to draw upon knowledge and empathy to inform viewers effectively.
A Day In The Life Of A TV News Anchor At ABC7 News KGO-TV
A news anchor's day at ABC7 News KGO-TV is a whirlwind of constant news consumption across platforms, proactively contacting guests and producers while driving, and preparing for multiple shows, which involves updating stories, creating interview questions, and collaborating on graphics, but "showtime is always so much fun because [the anchor] really do[es] love the live aspect, the performance aspect, [and] the pressure". The career is a job of constant multitasking, even during commercial breaks for additional research on "10 balls in the air", and ends with exhaustion and satisfaction.
Most Important Skills for a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGO-TV
Kristen from ABC7 News KGO-TV emphasizes that strong communication skills, both written and oral, are crucial, along with being engaging and authentic, as viewers can detect insincerity, and also suggests that being "calm under pressure" and poised are vital qualities developed through experience, learning from mistakes, and realizing that "the world didn't collapse." Furthermore, Kristen points out the importance of grammar, being well-read and informed about both local and global events, having empathy, and genuinely caring about the world to effectively report on sensitive stories.
Favorite Parts of Being a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News
Kristen enjoys the ever-changing nature of being a TV News Anchor at ABC7, from having "a front row seat to history in the making" and meeting inspiring people like a doctor teaching a course on cancer despite having cancer to working with a team to put out a product and feeling like "we won today." For Kristen, the job is a challenging, social, and engaging pass to the world where one must "think fast" but is ultimately satisfying.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News
Kristen, a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGO-TV, finds it a challenge "not letting the content," which can be distressing, affect presentation while also avoiding editorializing or letting personal beliefs cloud reporting, because the role requires presenting facts and context without bias. Furthermore, the financially challenged news industry necessitates creativity, often requiring the use of citizen-shot video due to budget constraints.
Favorite Parts of Working in the TV News Industry as a TV News Anchor
Kristen, a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGO-TV, finds the most rewarding aspect of journalism to be "the ability to make a difference" by providing citizens with the knowledge necessary for informed decision-making, emphasizing the vital role journalists play in holding leaders accountable and ensuring "truth is told," especially during challenging times. Ultimately, it is fulfilling to be "part of that, knowing that we're making a little bit of a difference."
What Type Of Person Thrives In TV News, According To A TV News Anchor At ABC7 News
To thrive as a TV News Anchor, Kristen suggests aspiring journalists possess an innate curiosity, always asking "why?" and going the extra mile to stand out. Kristen also emphasizes the importance of taking risks, being creative, and demonstrating value from day one, as exemplified by subscribing to the Fresno newspaper and sending story ideas to a potential employer, while remaining humble and resilient in the face of mistakes.
What a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the News Industry
Kristen wishes she had known about the personal sacrifices required to be a TV News Anchor, including frequent relocation from "small town to slightly larger small town" and the need to "be prepared to work crazy shifts" covering news 24/7, even on holidays. Also, Kristen says that becoming proficient in multiple skills, like shooting video, editing, blogging, and podcasting, increases employability as platforms evolve, but "fact checking, the information gathering, content creation... will always be needed."
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring TV News Anchors
To break into TV news, Kristen, an ABC7 News KGO-TV anchor, emphasizes the importance of multiple internships to build a demo reel, make connections, and find mentors who can offer guidance; she highlights the need to "give to them first before asking for help" by demonstrating self-motivation and offering assistance to busy professionals. Additionally, she points out that aspiring journalists can now create their own news stories and portfolios using their phones, gaining experience and showcasing talent before landing a job.
Significant Career Lesson From A TV News Anchor At ABC7 News
Kristen from ABC7 News KGO-TV emphasizes the necessity of active networking and self-promotion, particularly for women who might assume that good work speaks for itself; instead, one must "tell them and show them" accomplishments, like high story clicks or being first to a story, and "create opportunities" by directly pursuing coveted assignments, like maneuvering to cover a breaking news story in New York. In addition, she stresses knowing one's worth, negotiating fair compensation, and establishing a valuable niche, such as becoming the go-to person for political insights, to avoid settling for less than one's peers.
College Experiences That Helped A TV News Anchor At ABC7 News Succeed
To set up for success as a TV news anchor, Kristen focused on gaining experience through internships and college radio, supplementing this with political science classes to build a strong reporting foundation; moreover, "start that networking early" by joining professional organizations like the Asian American Journalist Association to connect with mentors and request workplace visits, understanding that real-life experience and personal growth often outweigh solely focusing on grades. For any student, it's beneficial to remember that "for every three asks, you might get one no, but generally people want to help."
TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGO TV
For social science majors, the beauty is that "you can do any job really," so Kristen suggests casting a wide net early in one's career, being open-minded, latching onto good people, and absorbing everything about the desired field, even if it means starting at the bottom and demonstrating initiative to create opportunities for growth. By being well-versed and prepared, one can "jump on it and...shine" even without a direct path from major to career, like becoming a venture capitalist with a political science or psychology background.
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