College of Media & Communication graduate Carly Smith accepted a position as a weekend weather anchor in Grand Junction, Colo., in January 2016.

Working at KJCT-TV and KKCO-TV, Smith (BA electronic media & communication, 2015) said she covers weather over the weekend and works as a reporter during the week.

Working at KJCT-TV and KKCO-TV, Smith (BA electronic media & communication, 2015) said she covers weather over the weekend and works as a reporter during the week.

“I started January 4 and after about four days of training, I did the weather for the Friday noon show for KKCO,” Smith said. “Then I did the weekend shows all by myself, and I had to cover for the chief meteorologist. That was exciting. It’s great that they already trust me to do that.”

Originally from Mansfield, Texas, Smith said Lubbock was the farthest west she had been before she moved to Grand Junction, and her new job marked the first time she had ever been to Colorado. She said she found the station while she was searching for weather-related broadcast jobs online.

“During the summer, I was applying for any weather job I saw on the Internet,” Smith said. “I saw that there was a morning weather position at KKCO, but when I applied I never heard back from them. I assumed they didn’t care, and I moved on with my life.”

However, Smith said she received an email from the station’s news director in November, asking if she was interested in a weekend weather anchor position instead, and she said she was happy to accept.

Smith began her time at Texas Tech as a geophysics major. During her junior year, she changed her major to electronic media & communication with a minor in atmospheric science to pursue a budding interest in TV meteorology.

In addition to interning with KCBD-TV in Lubbock for two-and-a-half years, Smith said she gained experience as a student by working with CoMC’s student-produced newscast, "MCTV Weekday Update."

CoMC’s media production manager, Josh Robinson, said Smith was the first student to anchor a weather segment on MCTV after the newscast launched in 2008. He said Smith started out by doing live-shots outside the building, and then when the studio was redesigned in 2014, she became the first student to anchor weather in studio for MCTV.

“I personally redesigned the TV studio in 2014 to include a weather wall due to Carly’s involvement with the newscast. Up until then, we only had the main news set and the green screen behind it,” Robinson said. “When Carly continued to show interest in doing weather, I designed the side set, and bought a couple additional video monitors and some extra lighting to make it all happen.”

Robinson described Smith as a unique student who set a high standard in the college, and he said he is glad she branched out and decided to try anchoring weather with MCTV.

“Carly is a smart, energetic and motivated individual who has the ability to do great things,” Robinson said. “I’m really glad the management at KKCO recognized her abilities, and I think Grand Junction is just the first stop for her as she works her way up the ladder of the broadcast industry.”

Smith said one of her favorite things about Texas Tech is that the professors are “top notch” and were always there to answer her questions.

“Even in December after I graduated I was asking Josh about finding a job and if he knew anything about KKCO,” Smith said. “Students should take the time to get to know their professors because they want you to succeed. They also have connections that can help you find a job.”

Smith said her advice for current students is to get as much experience as possible before they graduate and to stay persistent when searching for a job after graduation.

“The biggest advice I can give is to get experience, whether it’s through your college program like MCTV or through interning at a station,” Smith said. “Don’t be afraid to intern at more than one place because you’ll get more connections that way, and connections in the media industry are really important. Also, don’t give up on your job search. It’s going to be tough at the beginning, but it will pay off!”

(Rachel Blevins is a junior journalism major from Mineral Wells, Texas)