This profile was part of the Faculty of Public Affairs’ Generation FPA series, which highlighted up and coming alumni who graduated between 2008-2018. The series was published in 2018.
Katie Griffin is a News Anchor at CTV News in Ottawa. Growing up, Katie Griffin was always curious about what was going on in the world and why. She knew she wanted to be a journalist and right out of university landed a reporting gig at CTV Ottawa. She now reports during the week and co-anchors the weekend news alongside fellow Carleton alumnus Stefan Keyes. She also files for the web, CTV News Channel and Newstalk 580 CFRA.
How did you get your start in journalism?
I interned at CTV Ottawa for a week in December 2010 during my fourth year of university. I was able to file two pieces that went to air and a few months later, I applied for a position that had been posted. By April 2011, I was a part-time reporter six nights a month. Very quickly I was called in more often and things picked up from there.
That seems to be a common way to break into a newsroom job.
A long time ago, people expected an automatic full-time job, but that doesn’t happen in this industry. You have to work the shifts few people want: Christmas, evenings, weekends. You have to cut your teeth, put your work in, and once you have your foot in the door, don’t take it out.
When an opportunity comes up, go for it. If someone had told me I’d go from part-time night shifts to anchoring in six and a half years, I probably wouldn’t have believed them.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
I love that every day is different. Everyone has a story to tell and every story we do is important for different reasons. It’s a privilege to do what we do and a huge responsibility we don’t take lightly.
One day you’re covering crime…the next it’s a trio travelling across the country on horseback.
One story that stood out for me this summer was the flooding in Gatineau. It was devastating. We broadcasted full shows from the middle of flooded streets in hip waders and boats.
People lost their homes and everything they worked for, but even at their lowest point, they were still willing to speak to us and trusted us to tell their story.
How has your journalism degree helped you?
It was a huge asset because it really gave me the foundation I needed, both in terms of skills and understanding why we cover things and how we do it. It gave me an outline of what to expect in the real world.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 in GenFPA, Journalism
Share: Twitter, Facebook
