Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Patrick Clayton Battalion reporter Angela Rodriguez runs through a mock newscast in the KBTX newsroom. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Patrick Clayton [Click to enlarge]

You don't have to tell me. I already know I would be an awesome news anchor. Poise, beauty and uncanny conversational ability would make anyone think I would be a great professional talker. However, after visiting news station KBTX, I found that being a TV newscaster is more than smiling and talking to the masses.

KBTX News Anchor Crystal Galny greeted me at the door. We walked into the newsroom, which looked exactly like it is portrayed in the movies- the news desks, green screens, control rooms, lights and cameras. The KBTX newsroom resembled The Battalion newsroom: cubicles and the inaudible buzz of television screens tuned to national news stations.

She introduced me to her co-workers, including co-anchor Joe Brown. When Galny said she needed to put on her makeup for the show, Brown joked, "That's the only reason I'm in this profession. I get to wear makeup."

Galny graduated from Texas A&M in 2001 with a journalism degree. The Bryan native has worked at KBTX for eight years.

While working for the state department in Washington, D.C., Galny was offered an internship with CNN in the White House. Later, she was hired as an editor at KBTX and moved up to anchor.

Galny arrives at work at 2 p.m. and, depending on the stories, leaves around 11 p.m.

Each day, Galny and Brown take turns doing a radio report and a newsbreak at 4:30 p.m., which is a 25-second clip that gives three teasers for the upcoming stories for the day. She anchors the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news broadcasts.

"We all have to come to the table with story ideas everyday," Galny said. "We have a 9 o'clock meeting and a 2 o'clock assignments meeting, and it's just whatever is going on. There are always stories."

KBTX gave me the opportunity to do a mock newscast. By far, it was the coolest thing I have ever done. Even though the cameras were not rolling, it was intimidating sitting at the desk and reading the news aloud.

Galny said live recordings were nerve- racking at first, but now it's just part of the job.

Brenna Flores, a junior communication major, interns at KBTX.

"In the beginning, they taught me how to edit and then once I figured that out, I started writing," she said. "They would give me stuff to write and they would go over it with me and give constructive criticism. Then I got to start going out on stories, which is really cool."

"The internships are really great because they are just your hours, and you come in between your classes," Galny said. "So it's really flexible. We let you write and go out on stories."

Galny said persistence is necessary for success in any career field.

"You have to get started now," she said. "Just get your foot in the door."

News facts from Crystal
Approximately 247,000 viewers tune in to KBTX weekly. KBTX serves seven counties.

Journalism is not the only major among newscasters. "If you are a good writer, articulate and can speak well, you have a good shot regardless of your background," Galny said.

Newscasters write their stories. "A lot of people don't think it's as much work as it is, but you have to prepare for the shows."

Styling hair and makeup is up to the newscaster. "Joe [Brown] uses more hairspray than me."

Every newscaster has had a blooper or two. "That's the best thing about this job. If you mess up the day before, you forget about it by the next day."

Reporters and anchors sometimes pair their professional attire with slippers or shorts on camera.

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