ABC 13 Anchors To Mingle At SHSU

Nov. 2, 2012
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt

 

As the media plays an ever-increasing role in politics, two of Houston’s ABC 13 anchors will visit the Sam Houston State University campus on Nov. 13 to discuss coverage of this year’s presidential election, offer perspectives for students seeking broadcast careers, and “mingle” with members of the Bearkat and Huntsville communities.

The SHSU Priority One semiannual “Mingling with the Media” event, featuring Katie McCall and Elissa Rivas, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Dan Rather Communications Building Room 125. A reception at 6 p.m. will precede the program.

Katie McCall

The two award-winning journalists will also discuss their career paths that led them to Houston’s KTRK news team and provide a current and personal look into working in today’s media.

McCall, who anchors the weekend morning newscasts at ABC 13, has worked as both an anchor and reporter all over the country.

Among her career highlights are covering President Barack Obama when he was an Illinois senator making a run for the White House and the rise and fall of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. In Houston, McCall covered Tropical Storm Allison, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the collapse of Enron.

The Chicago native is an award-winning journalist who has received two Associated Press awards and was named "best local TV news reporter" by the Houston Press in 2004.

She graduated with cum laude honors from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish.

Elissa Rivas

Rivas took her first job in television news as a reporter and anchor in Yuma, Ariz., and worked in El Paso covering the intense impact of the Sept. 11 attacks on immigration and border traffic before joining the Eyewitness News team, where she also anchors Saturday and Sunday morning newscasts.

Rivas has been recognized for her work with the regional and national Radio Television Digital News Association, and the Edward R. Murrow Award for her continuing coverage of a child abduction and murder in El Paso. Through her work documenting teenage alcohol and substance abuse, she earned a National Communicator Award of Distinction and a first place award in serious feature reporting from the Texas Associated Press.

Born and raised in Dallas, she also graduated from Vanderbilt University, majoring in political science and communications.

The first 50 “Mingling with the Media” attendees will receive a free event T-shirt.

The audience will also be allowed to submit questions before the event begins.

Under the direction of Warner Endowed Chair of Journalism and former White House spokesperson Peter Roussel, the on-campus Priority One team is staffed by students who seek a career in public relations. The group provides on-campus departments, organizations and others with public relations services.

Their series has included notable media personalities Dan Rather; Melanie Lawson and David Strickland, of Channel 13; and Lana Hughes, of KTRH Radio.

For more information about Priority One events or services email priority1pr@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/SHSUPriorityOne.

 

 

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