BEFORE THE DAWN WHAS11’s ‘Wake Up’ is delivering real news and good vibes By MARIAH KLINE Photos by JAKE CANNON
To learn more, visit whas11.com. To join the Facebook group, search “Wake Up Family.” 106
THE VOICE OF LOUISVILLE
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ow does one start their workday when it begins before sunrise? “Lots of coffee,” says meteorologist Kaitlynn Fish, whose first alarm goes off at 1:35 a.m. “I have three alarms set,” adds anchor Kristin Pierce. “When we first started, I would drink about a pot of coffee before we went on air at 4:30,” says anchor Daniel Sechtin. Fish, Pierce and Sechtin are the key players of WHAS11’s new morning show, “Wake Up,” which debuted July 22. The show runs from 4:30 to 7 a.m., meaning its stars are up and at it in the middle of the night. However, they’re not just showing up and half-heartedly reading from a teleprompter. This crew brings a dynamic and authentic news experience to its fellow early risers. News Director Julie Wolfe explains that the creation of the show first began with assembling a group of “superstars.” “This is an interesting and diverse team, both on and off the air,” she says. “We
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really do represent a lot of our community, whether it’s Louisville or Southern Indiana or Oldham County. ... I think sometimes shows fail because someone – whether it’s a consultant or a news director – will say, ‘Here, do this show.’ And if that doesn’t fit your strengths or make sense for your audience, that’s a real failure to your viewers and your community.” One of the team’s primary goals is to deliver the day’s most important stories while maintaining a positive mindset. Fish, a New Orleans native who arrived at the station two years ago, says the show achieves this by sharing necessary information and genuine conversations. “I think we’re not afraid to laugh at ourselves and have a little fun,” says Fish. “We’re good at delivering hard news but in a kind of quick, informative way (since) people don’t have a lot of time in the morning.” The “Wake Up” team – which also includes reporters Brooke Hasch and Rob Harris – understands that the viewer’s time is valuable and has to be earned. A major goal they try to accomplish with SEPTEMBER 2019