Brandi Smith announced she will be the new KHOU.com digital anchor starting July 5th.
Currently she is the TEGNA Houston station's social media anchor for the #HTownRush morning newscast.
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"I have this idea for a digital anchor role," Smith said in a Facebook video. "And the way it's different is this is not reporting...this isn't reporting on social media, it's reporting on social media. So when there's breaking news anchoring our coverage on KHOU.com, anchoring our coverage, that streams on our Facebook page...doing Instagram lives, Twitter, even TikTok.
"Being that digital presence, because there are so many of our viewers throughout the day who don't have the time to sit down and watch a 30 minute newscast, but who can when a big story comes up, open up social media. Open up their favorite platform, pop on to KHOU.com and see the latest."
Smith leaves mornings
This new KHOU digital anchor job means Smith is leaving the #HTownRush morning newscast and her Saturday morning anchor duties. And she is pretty happy about the new daytime work hours.
"I feel most days like I do a pretty good job of hiding the fact that I'm not a morning person," Smith said. "But a lot of you have picked up on that fact. I am actually a night owl. For four years, I have worked the exact opposite schedule of what my body tells me it wants. So, I am super excited to share with you that I will get to sleep in."
So who is taking over Saturday morning anchor duties? Smith said Sunday morning anchor Lauren Talarico will now anchor both weekend morning shows.
What Smith thinks about Ivory Hecker's FOX 26 revelations
During her Facebook video announcement, Smith was asked about and gave her thoughts on FOX 26's Ivory Hecker teaming up with Project Veritas which led to the KRIV reporter's termination.
"I don't think there was anything bombshell in what Ivory Hecker shared with Project Veritas. I watched it. I mean, yeah, when we know that mostly suburban moms are going to be watching, say, the 4:00 p.m. newscast, it's going to be geared toward that audience and issues and topics that they'll be interested in, what will get them to tune in.
This is speaking from my perspective. I've been in TV news for 20 years. The way it was phrased, the way it was handled, by the management Ivory worked with, I can tell you that that would not fly in in my shop and actually violates a lot of TEGNA's, our ownership company's, guiding principles, just the way things were referenced.
Also, in 20 years in this business, only once have I ever felt forced to do a story. And that was back when I lived in Boise. I had a really aggressive news director and I was young and I didn't know to push back.
But most journalists in this market, and I am so proud of so many of the journalists, I work with a KHOU 11. If they feel like something's not right, they will speak up. They will push back. I'm sure it's not always appreciated, but we have some really experienced journalists here. And so I've never...here been forced to...I don't know...carry the corporate dialogue, or message, so that's what I will say on that."
Where Smith worked before KHOU
Smith has been with KHOU since February 2017.
Before channel 11, Smith worked for:
- weekday anchor/investigative MMJ KBMT 12 Beaumont
- fill-in anchor/producer at CW39 KIAH's NewsFix and EyeOpener
- evening anchor, MMJ, producer at KEZI 9
- producer KOIN Portland, Oregon
- reporter, weekend weather anchor, producer for KIVI Boise, Idaho
- MMJ - fill-in anchor, producer for KPIC Roseburg, Oregon
