Pleased to offer a quick catch-up interview I just did with former Seattle TV news anchor, Margo Myers. I am sure many of the readers here remember and enjoyed her teriffic work with both KIRO and KOMO. Take a peek, we tried to keep it short and sweet.
1. Margo, give us a bio on how you got from Point A to Point B in the TV business.
I started my career in Redding, CA at the KHSL bureau where I was a one-man band –shooting, writing, editing and anchoring stories. It was a great learning experience and the summer I was there – hotter than blazes – with 21 straight days over 100 degrees.
From Redding, I went to KSBY in San Luis Obispo (where I met my husband), did a short reporting stint in Tulsa, OK and then back to California for several years anchoring at KSBW in Salinas. I traveled to Panama twice with the US Army and the 7th Light Infantry to cover Noriega and our troop movements there. (Lots of stories). I was also on the air covering the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 for hours on end.
I moved to KOMO in Seattle in 1993. KOMO was such a good experience with great people! I anchored weekends with Eric Slocum and reported weekdays, also filling in for Kathi Goertzen with Dan Lewis, and then moving to the morning news with Todd Johnson and Rick Van Cise. KIRO lured me across the street to anchor the nightly news with Steve Raible for about 5 years. I left in 2009 when station management didn’t renew my contract – no reason given. I was bummed, but after 25 years in TV news, it seemed like a good time to do something new.
2. Tell us why you got into Comms and coaching work, and how do you think it has helped others and fulfilled you as a second career?
When I left TV news, I started my own communications business doing PR, marketing and strategy. And about a year later, I had the opportunity to join two other women (Jenni Hogan and Suzanne Keel-Eckmann) to form the Springboard Academy, a leadership program for women. I was running two companies for several years! Springboard led to coaching, which I love, and I pivoted to coaching full-time after getting my certification in 2014. Coaching is helping people figure out how to get where they want to go, asking questions, developing a plan, and holding them accountable so they can reach their goals.
One of the most fascinating roles I took was that of a Leadership Coach at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. We worked with the project teams managing the maintenance on nuclear subs and aircraft carriers. Yes, I had Top Secret Security Clearance. I went on to teach classes at Command University on base, as well as manage our entire coaching team. Coaches helped teams be more productive and develop leaders. An amazing role. I stepped away as older family members needed more of my time. Definitely one of the favorite jobs!
3. What's your take on the state of the industry as you view it today? Do you still watch local TV news, and, if so, what are your opinions of it compared to what you lived every day?
I still watch TV news, but not as consistently. Most of my news I get online, and I still subscribe to newspapers because solid journalism is more important than ever. I do think quality has lessened with newsrooms needing to do more with less, and younger reporters don’t always have the experience (or time slot) to provide viewers with context on why stories matter.
4. How do you spend your leisure time, if any, grandkids, hubby, etc. and do you have any plans, like travel, etc., in the future?
I have taken up painting! It’s a great creative outlet and I love it. I also travel to Eastern Washington a lot to be with my parents. And our son and daughter-in-law have two adorable little ones, so we enjoy seeing the grandkids when we can!
Our friend Heidi worked with her in Salinas.
ReplyDeleteI did!
DeleteThanks for the kind words, Wayne! Always good to connect with you.
ReplyDeleteMargo, I loved your time on the TV news in Seattle! I did not know you then worked at PSNS in Bremerton. Interesting! I am a Bremerton lad, born and raised. After I was graduated from WSU, I spent my career as an engineer at NUWC Keyport, just up the road from PSNS.
ReplyDeleteI am now retired. My wife (also a WSU grad) and I now spend our time traveling and enjoying our grandchildren.
Go Cougs!
Nice to hear from Margo and happy she is doing well post-TV news. She started at KOMO around the same time I came to Seattle myself in the mid-1990s. I remember one time she mentioned how awe-struck it was for her to be in the same newsroom with the legendary and fellow WSU alum Kathi Goertzen and at times people mistook her on the street for Kathi. I remember waking up on the morning of 9/11 and turning on the morning news and seeing Margo trying her best to keep her composure of what was going on in New York and Washington, DC. That's the thing of working the morning news (other than 2 or 3am wake-up call) and you don't know how your day is going to go like. Expect the unexpected. At the time she left KOMO, KIRO was looking for a replacement for longtime evening anchor Susan Hutchison. It may have a great opportunity to finally work evenings and alongside Steve Raible, but something seemed off. Whether it was the chemistry or so many were used to seeing Susan on KIRO as much as they were to seeing Margo on KOMO all those years, anything could be the reason why her contract wasn't renewed without notice. TV news is a monster that so many industry veterans will tell you. You just have to keep your cool and composure and not let yourself get eaten up by viewers or management. This is why so many of the "younger" generation are leaving the industry for greener pastures. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI also had a class with Margo in the summer of '81.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to hear from Margo after all these years. I mostly remember her from KIRO, but have seen clips from her time at KOMO. A great presenter who is sorely missed on our screens. I'm happy to hear that she is doing well, and wish her all the best going forward.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from Margo. A gracious and hard working newsroom leader.
ReplyDeleteI think I was ylour VP at Ephrata High back in the day
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