Creating a Culture of Representation at ABC Owned Television Stations
ABC News is excited to be at NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists conference! At the event, attendees are given the opportunity to meet with recruiters and employees about their experiences working at America’s number one news source.
Meet Ken, Executive Producer–Special Projects, ABC Owned Television Stations (OTVS)! He shared with us his career journey and his connection to the conference.
Tell us about your career journey with ABC OTVS. How did you get your start?
“I started at KGO-TV in 1994 while still in college at San Francisco State University. I started as an intern on the news assignment desk, working my way up to special projects producer, and I am now Executive Producer of Special Projects. Along the way I’ve done just about every job in the newsroom: assignment editor, satellite coordinator, researcher, editor, writer, and reporter. Today, I also work with, not only a very talented local team, but also amazing people across ABC OTVS.”
What is a favorite project you’ve worked on?
“Last year I got to work on a joint project with ABC News, ‘Our America: Who I’m Meant to Be.’ I have produced the series of stories from across our stations into an hour long special available both on-air and on our streaming platforms. We teamed up with Gio, an ABC News and Good Morning America anchor, to have a conversation about what it means to be a transgender youth in America today. The program was a network first, airing and streaming on all eight owned stations, Hulu, and ABC News Live. The program won a GLAAD Media award. Standing on stage next to Gio at the awards ceremony was a career and personal highlight, not just because the content was being recognized, but because it was a celebration of collaboration between ABC News and the ABC Owned Television Stations.”
What experiences do you get working for ABC OTVS that you wouldn’t get anywhere else?
“I have had amazing opportunities to grow personally and professional working at ABC OTVS and The Walt Disney Company. Over the course of my career, I have traveled to the jungles of Mexico, shaken hands with presidential candidates in Iowa, met heroes, celebrities, titans of tech, and everyday people who have shaped the way we live and work. But it is the people of ABC OTVS who have made for an amazing career. The talented writers, producers, reporters, and leaders make me proud to work here, and hopeful for the future of journalism.”
What is your connection to the NLGJA conference?
“I have been a long-time member of the NLGJA: The Association LGBTQ+ Journalists. It is the largest LGBTQ+ journalist organization in the world, and I now serve as the national president. In this role, I have interactions with not only with the top leaders at ABC, but also with the leaders of news organizations across the country. It also makes me a resource for my colleagues across ABC OTVS and ABC News when questions come up about how to cover the LGBTQ+ community.”
Why do you think it’s important for ABC OTVS to attend journalism conferences like NLGJA?
“Representation matters. Community matters. That’s why it is important for ABC News and ABC OTVS to attend journalism conferences. While LGBTQ+ people are in all of our newsrooms, there are still portions of our community that are underrepresented. Having the opportunity to talk with newsroom leaders about the importance of representation and the need for the media to represent the entire population is essential to providing our audiences with an accurate representation of their communities. Having diverse voices make it possible for everyone to have a seat at the table.”
What advice would you give to others looking to have a great career at ABC OTVS?
“To have a great career at ABC OTVS you must continue to be curious. Not just when it comes to new technology or how we do our day-to-day work, but it means being curious about each other. Taking the time to get to know the people you interact with every day makes this job more fulfilling.”
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