Lane Luckie honored by alma mater as Distinguished Communications Professional

Journalist Lane Luckie, an alumnus of Northwestern State University, was recently recognized by the Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts with a Distinguished Communications Professional Award during a luncheon and program on Friday, April 4. Luckie was honored alongside media strategist Valsin Marmillion and the late famed sportswriter Jerry Byrd. Created in 2021,…

The future of Journalism and Communications is now

Aspiring communications professionals have never had more opportunities to pursue their passions for journalism and content creation. Schools like my Alma Mater, Northwestern State University, are creating pathways for students to thrive in a multimedia-driven workplace. The university’s Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts recently held its 51st Journalism and Media Day to…

Lane Luckie earns German media prize for international reporting

Lane Luckie was honored Monday night as a recipient of a RIAS Media Prize award for his reports from Germany last September. The 32nd annual awards are presented by the RIAS Berlin Commission and celebrates some of the best of transatlantic broadcast journalism. The winners were celebrated at a gala ceremony at Berlin’s Meistersaal, a…

Looking back: A teen reporter on Capitol Hill

An unexpected flood of memories recently reminded me of one of the most formative experiences of my adolescence. I pulled a scrapbook and photos out of a storage closet after realizing it’s been 20 years since I attended Presidential Classroom in Washington, D.C. Flipping through my workbook, hand-written notes, and photographs provided a rush of…

Honoring the legacy of KLTV’s first newsman

95 years ago today, legendary KLTV 7 personality “Kip” Kippenbrock was born in Austin, Texas. He passed away in 2010, but is still beloved in East Texas. I am astonished by the impact he made during his tenure at KLTV. When I talk to long-time viewers around East Texas, they are all too eager to…

Marking 15 years at Your East Texas News Leader

Today marks 15 years since I first arrived at KLTV, KTRE! It’s a great reminder of how blessed I am to pursue my passion in life here in East Texas. From the Berlin Wall to the Great Wall of China, it’s been a privilege to take you around the world to show you how the…

International partnership brings more prominent journalists from Germany to KLTV newsroom

Two nationally-known journalists from Germany are learning about American broadcasters by spending a week embedded in the KLTV newsroom. Aline Abboud, a presenter for ARD network’s flagship ‘Tagesthemen’ broadcast, and Clara Pfeffer, a political correspondent for the RTL and ntv networks, are both fellows of the RIAS Berlin Commission, a bi-national exchange program for journalists…

International exchange program brings German journalist to KLTV newsroom

A correspondent for a German TV network is learning about local journalism from the largest news organization in East Texas. Tom Garus of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), an affiliate of the internationally respected ARD network, just completed a week embedded in the KLTV newsroom in Tyler. Based in Berlin, he serves as reporter and moderator for…

Donna McCollum: 44 Years as the Voice for Deep East Texas

In our industry, a tenure this long is uncommon. But that’s Donna — truly exceptional — both as a journalist and as a person. Retirement is a bittersweet moment for a beloved collegiate. KTRE and KLTV veteran reporter Donna McCollum is retiring after an amazing career of 44 years telling the stories of Deep East…

Inside German broadcaster Welt’s new Berlin headquarters

It’s all hands on deck for election week at the Welt TV network, which is owned by German media giant Axel Springer. The Bundestag elections in September are the first major parliamentary election broadcast from Welt’s studio inside the new Axel Springer Building. The facility, along Zimmerstrasse in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood, opened in April. The…

Showing off Tyler, Texas as Lone Star Emmy Awards goes virtual

This year’s Lone Star Emmy Awards show is going virtual due to the pandemic. When my co-anchor Erika Bazaldua and I were asked to be presenters in a taped broadcast, we thought it’d be a great idea to show off ‘The Rose Capital of America’ during our segment. Tyler’s Rose Garden Center and Museum served…

Talking Politics: Analyzing Texas election outcomes with international journalists

With a historic voter turnout in Texas during an unprecedented pandemic, the 2020 general election will likely be studied for years. President Donald Trump garnered roughly 600 thousand more votes in the Lone Star State than Democratic challenger Joe Biden, upending pundits’ predictions that Texas would turn “blue.” Democrats did make in-roads, expanding their reach…

Election 2020: The Morning After

What an awesome opportunity, the morning after the election, talking to students about the role of journalism in democracy. Journalism teacher Josh Ault, a former KXAS-TV (NBC 5) reporter and fellow Northwestern State University alum, invited me to lead a virtual Q&A with his class at Southlake ISD’s Dawson Middle School. There’s a reason why…

International broadcaster exchange brings German journalist to KLTV/KTRE newsroom

An international exchange program is bringing another journalist from Germany to work side-by-side with the largest news organization in East Texas, KLTV and KTRE. Andreas Mitzkus will spend the next week shadowing and learning from producers, anchors, reporters, photographers, digital content producers, and news managers in the KLTV and KTRE newsroom. Mitzkus is a producer…

How to make the most out of a journalism fellowship

For journalists, a fellowship can provide unmatched mid-career professional development and opportunities for meaningful personal growth. Having completed fellowships with the RIAS Berlin Commission and the East-West Center, I was recently invited to share my own experiences in a panel discussion at RTDNA/SPJ’s annual ‘Excellence in Journalism’ conference. These international reporting experiences required a significant…

German journalist embedded in KLTV newsroom as part of international exchange

As the main anchor of Germany’s international broadcaster, Sarah Kelly is the face of Deutsche Welle’s coverage of the world’s biggest stories. Over the last decade, her personal and professional travels have taken her from the World Economic Forum to the G-20 summit, though, a three-week whirlwind tour of the U.S., including a week in…

A legend among giants: Remembering Kenny Boles

It’s now been a year since KLTV & KTRE lost our longtime news director, Kenny Boles, who was called home unexpectedly in 2018 after a short battle with cancer. His impact in the lives and careers of so many of my colleagues keeps Kenny in the forefront of what we do each day. A plaque…

Honored again with a 2018 Lone Star EMMY award

We are so honored to have been recognized with a Regional Emmy® award from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Outstanding achievement in Morning/Daytime Newscast – Smaller Markets (61+). I truly get to work with some of the best people I know. We wanted to dedicate this…

NSU J-Day, an opportunity to reconnect with my “why”

I’m always honored to be invited to speak at my alma mater, Northwestern State University. Their annual J-Day is connects future journalists with communications professionals to discuss trends in the industry, news philosophy, and career advice. High school students from around Louisiana and Texas are also participating in journalism competitions, listening to keynote lectures, and…

Lane Luckie selected as fellow for East-West Center journalist exchange in China

Award-winning journalist Lane Luckie has been selected to travel to China this Fall to explore the current issues related to the important bilateral relationship between the world’s two largest economies. As a fellow of the East-West Center’s China-United States Journalist Exchange, the KLTV anchor and reporter will travel to Asia September 7-21, 2018. “As changes…

Celebrating a trailblazer among women in broadcasting

Many broadcasters spend their careers moving from city to city, hopping among newsrooms until they find the perfect fit. Very few people can say they’ve worked in any industry for nearly 50 years, let alone spending 44 years in one company. Veteran journalist Joan Hallmark is celebrating an extraordinary tenure with the KLTV and KTRE…

KLTV newsroom hosts German journalist in Trans-Atlantic exchange

As so-called ‘cord cutting’ and mobile technology trends drive the ways consumers connect with news and information, journalists are constantly adapting to the needs of their audiences. For more than two decades, an exchange program for American and German broadcasters has been building bridges of understanding — both personally and professionally. More than 1,200 American…

Honored with a 2017 Lone Star EMMY award

I’m so honored to have been recognized with a Regional EMMY from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Outstanding achievement in Morning/Daytime Newscast – Smaller Markets (61+). We have a tremendously talented and dedicated morning news team. Our viewers have come to trust KLTV for exceptional coverage…