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In the News: Journalism Alumni Spotlight
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What’s happening? From sports to politics, television anchor Chris Flanagan, ’94, has built a career around telling it like it is. By Joan Wells
ews anchor Chris Flanagan, ’94, program and dedicated professors for preparLady Michelle Obama. Flanagan describes first interviewed Barack Obama ing him for the highly competitive field. Obama as“earthy”and“personable.” when he was a political newcomer, observ“I’m really proud that I graduated Flanagan says he’s been lucky to ing firsthand in subsequent meetings from Southern,” Flanagan says.“They do a have the opportunity to interview a wide Obama’s evolution from a quiet man with fantastic job preparing people for the outrange of celebrities, including Tiger Woods, high aspirations to the self-assured, confiside world.We were able to go out, get Clint Eastwood (nice guy, Flanagan says), dent leader who made history when he video, edit it — everything from A to Z.” Barry Bonds, Michael Jordan, Donald became President. It doesn’t get much betFlanagan landed his first industry Trump, Huey Lewis, and Neil Young. His ter than that for a journalist. job some 15 years ago as a sportscaster at career also has provided a firsthand view of “It’s something different every day. one of the smallest stations in the country, some of the most esteemed sports events People have wonderful stories to tell,” in Elmira, N.Y. He then spent about a in the world, including the Winter Flanagan says of his career.“I’ve always decade as a sportscaster for stations in Olympics, the World Series, the NBA Finals, been a news junkie. I’ve always loved newsVermont, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and and the Indianapolis 500. papers and magazines.” But it’s the daily task of Since March 2009, I’m really that I bringing news to the communiFlanagan has also loved his new graduated from Southern, ty that most inspires the veteran job at ABC affiliate WFAA in newscaster. Flanagan particularThey do a fantastic job Dallas, where he anchors the people for ly appreciates the philosophy at morning news, from 5 a.m. to 7 WFAA, emphasizing the posithe outside world. a.m., and the mid-day broadcast, — Chris Flanagan, ’94 tive to viewers, even in stories from noon to 1 p.m. The hours about the economy.“That’s been make for an unusual daily schedule — he Connecticut, where, early in his career, he refreshing,” Flanagan says.“The last few wakes for work at 2 a.m. and goes to bed at had a weekend gig at WVIT Channel 30. months, people have been down. People are about 6 p.m. — but Flanagan has put a About four years ago, Flanagan got getting pounded. They don’t want to get positive spin on rising ultra-early. his big break and moved from sports to pounded when they watch the news.” “I enjoy being off with my kids in news, when he was hired by an ABC affiliFlanagan,who grew up in Madison, the afternoon. It’s nice to pick them up ate in Des Moines, Iowa. He especially Conn.,as one of six children,began his colafter school,” he says of Matthew, 7 and loved the exposure to political reporting lege career in a general studies program at Molly, 5.“They put dad to bed, but they’re that he gained through the Iowa caucuses, Colorado State University.Although he loved good about it.” interviewing many national politicians as the skiing,he was put off by the school’s Since graduation, Flanagan has they campaigned during the lead-up to the large class size and decided to transfer to climbed the ladder of success the old fash2008 election. Southern because of its great reputation. ioned way — through hard work, perseverIt was then that Flanagan repeated“I knew they had a good journalism ance, and talent. He is quick to credit ly sat one-on-one with the then relatively program,” he says, noting the move served Southern’s top-notch, hands-on journalism unknown Barack Obama and future First him well.“I love what I do everyday.” I
proud
photo courtesy of Chris Flanagan, ’94
preparing
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