We recently connected with Catherine Anaya and have shared our conversation below.
Catherine , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I went into the University of Southern California wanting to become a newspaper reporter.I wrote for the Daily Trojan all four years, eventually becoming the assistant features editor. During my sophomore year though, I became consumed with broadcast journalism and decided to pursue that as a career. My junior year I took a semester-long internship at the NBC station in Los Angeles in the advertising/promotions department. I had no desire to work in that particular field, but it was on the same floor as the newsroom. I looked at that as an opportunity to get my foot in the door. During that time I was tasked with writing 10 second teases for Entertainment Tonight that the news anchors would read at the end of their newscasts. I also wrote a 30 second promotional spot for one of the local programs. When I wasn’t learning that part of the business, you’d find me hanging around the newsroom – tape recorder in hand – getting to know the on-air talent by ‘interviewing’ them about how they broke into the business. By the end of that internship the main sports anchor (who would later become a dear family friend) invited me to intern for him. I had no desire to be a sports reporter, but I thought if I did become a news anchor one day, I should probably know enough about sports to banter with the sports anchor on set. I watched a lot of sports, and even got to interview Magic Johnson at “the Fabulous Forum” (I had to stand on a ladder with my microphone because of the large size difference between us!). Just before that internship ended, the entertainment producer invited me to intern in the entertainment department. I went to an interview with Sheena Easton (big pop star in the 80’s), and the entertainment reporter let me ask some questions! By the end of that internship, and on the cusp of graduating, the news executives who became used to seeing me around the newsroom – offered me an editorial assistant position on the morning newscast. I wrote stories for the newscast and got a kick out of seeing my name in the Friday show credits. That position helped me get an assignment desk assistant position at the ABC station in LA which gave me the opportunity to shadow the reporters, photographers and editors. I learned the process of getting a story on air from start to finish and many of these pros helped put my resume tape together which landed me my first television news anchor position in Texas. That’s the backstory to where the real risk comes in. I had never anchored a newscast on live television before. Yet here I was at 22-years-old, moving alone to South Texas, where I knew no one, to do a job I had never done before. Was I scared? YOU BET! I would not only anchor the newscast by myself, but the job also required me to write the newscast, produce it, and run my own teleprompter. This was before computers. I typed my scripts, taped them together, and fed them through the prompter that I had to control while I anchored. I went into this experience so afraid I would fail. But I was even more afraid of not taking the risk and then wondering for the rest of my life if I let fear stand in the way of making my dream come true. Taking that risk changed the entire course of my life. I went on to enjoy a successful 25-year television news career that I absolutely loved. 34 years since that day I showed up in Texas, I’m no longer in traditional news, but I’m still enjoying a career in front of the camera as a television host. Taking risks can be scary and intimidating. But taking those risks – even the most frightening ones – can become those golden, life-changing opportunities to show ourselves and others what we’re made of – and – what we can accomplish when we’d rather try and fail, than not try at all.
Catherine , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist. I currently host Horizonte on Arizona PBS, a weekly television series discussing Arizona issues and topics of particular interest to the Hispanic community. In 2017, I was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ nationally recognized Silver Circle for more than 25 years of broadcast excellence and contribution to the community. I am a former television news anchor of 25 years. I spent 12 of those years at CBS in Phoenix where I anchored the evening news. Prior to that, I anchored/reported at CBS in Los Angeles, NBC in Phoenix, as well as television stations in Indiana and Texas. I’ve been honored with nearly a dozen Emmy award nominations, as well as other awards that include ‘Anchor of the Year’ by the Arizona Associated Press Broadcasters Association. My career highlights include interviewing President Obama at the White House, co-anchoring a post-presidential debate with the legendary Walter Cronkite, and covering Hurricane Mitch in El Salvador. I bring my 34 years of experience as a broadcast journalist to my role as an emcee for various Arizona groups and organizations. I’ve emceed events for Governors, moderated Mayoral debates, and delivered the convocation address to graduates of the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I’ve appeared on CNN, HLN, and HISTORY channel. I’m also an award-winning columnist. Currently, I write a monthly column for Conexión, an Arizona PBS monthly e-newsletter. I broke into journalism initially wanting to be a print journalist. I wrote for the Daily Trojan all four years as a student at the University of Southern California. But when I discovered broadcast journalism, I was – as they say – hooked. I held several television internships before getting my first on-air break as the morning news anchor for the number one station in South Texas. As a television host and on-air talent, I’ve been told that I bring an experienced, warm and friendly presentation. I also show up prepared, which the production crews I work with say they appreciate, and my guests tell me makes them feel comfortable and at ease. Storytelling is my passion so I’m very humbled and most proud when viewers or clients tell me they consider what I do memorable, emotional, or impactful.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2015 I left traditional news after 25 years as a television news anchor/reporter. My ex-husband passed away unexpectedly in late 2014. My son was on the cusp of becoming a teenager and entering middle school. My daughter had just turned 18, in her last year of high school. I felt I needed to give my children my full attention, particularly my son, as they processed their loss, grief, and a new normal without their dad. Leaving my dream career was an easy decision because it was for the most important reason at such a crucial time in my children’s lives. It gave me the freedom to make my children my focus, while still procuring work as a host, emcee, and speaker – but on a part-time basis. I’m extremely grateful for the wide-range of opportunities this pivot has created for me. I’ve co-hosted a morning talk show, I’ve hosted a podcast, I’ve continued to emcee and/or moderate events for community groups and organizations, I’ve done television interviews for businesses locally and internationally, I’ve appeared on the History channel and HLN, and I currently host Horizonte, a weekly series on Arizona PBS, where I’m joined by various guests to discuss Arizona issues and topics of particular interest to the Hispanic community. But most importantly, my children are thriving. My son is a senior studying business at Arizona State University. My daughter is a public relations manager for an international cruise line. With the loving support of my husband of 11 years, I was able to be fully present for them during the darkest period of their lives. They are a constant reminder that my decision to pivot, is and always will be, the best decision I’ve ever made. For all of us.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being a creative is the impact my work can make in the lives of others. There were countless times during my news career when viewers would tell me that a story I did informed them to make a positive change in their life. My collaborations with organizations like ALS Arizona, as an emcee, give me an opportunity to help raise awareness for causes that are personal and near and dear to my heart. As the host of Horizonte on Arizona PBS, we’re having thoughtful discussions on topics that are sometimes overlooked. Recently I talked with an expert about the increased risk of melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) among Latinos. We heard from one viewer who said the episode prompted her to see a doctor for an odd-shaped mole on her leg. Turns out, the mole was precancerous. She said she probably wouldn’t have had it looked at, if she hadn’t seen our discussion on Horizonte. These are the stories that inspire me to continue using my skills and experience to help make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catherineanaya.com
- Instagram: @CatherineAnaya
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatherineAnayaTV/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineanaya/
- Twitter: @catherineanaya
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvNvGGKLeGY0IKdqMQCL-Jg
- Other: https://azpbs.org/horizonte/
Image Credits
Chris Loomis Photography