Today we’d like to introduce you to Karli Barnett.
Hi Karli, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Of course! So today– I anchor weeknights on Atlanta News First and get to let people in metro Atlanta know what is going on in their communities.
Growing up watching Atlanta news, it is pretty surreal that this is what I do. I have been in TV news for more than 11 years now!
Soon after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, I started my career as a “one-woman-band” reporter in Macon, GA. That meant I would film, write, and edit my own stories, all in one afternoon, in time for the 5:00 p.m. news.
From there, I became a morning anchor at that station and accomplished learning how to wake up at 2:00 a.m. to help people start their days!
Then I moved to Miami, FL for a great opportunity at a larger media market. I was an Anchor and Reporter in South Florida for about five years and covered a lot of major news stories there. Plus, it did not hurt living near the beach!
My goal, though, was always to return home to Atlanta. I did just that a little over two years ago now to be part of the exciting developments at Atlanta News First.
This past June, I was grateful to win an Emmy for my work.
Of course, it was a huge honor, but it was particularly nice to be a part of a fantastic team at WANF. Together, we work hard to deliver quality, informative news, and now that we are becoming our own independent station, there is about to be a lot more of it!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This is a very “work your way up” business. People see the studio and cameras, and they may think it’s all quite glamorous. What people do not see on TV, however, is the hard work and sacrifice that lead up to getting a story ready for air.
Journalists work late nights, early mornings, holidays and weekends. We do it because we have a passion for it, but it can sometimes take a toll on the mind and body.
It is always nice to have happy news to share, but many stories can be emotionally difficult for both the people we are interviewing and the reporters trying to cover them. It is impossible not to be affected. We are human, after all, and we do not always get to show up on someone’s best day.
That is why I am so grateful for the support of my family, friends, and mentors in my profession who always listen to me and encourage me. Feeling as though I have done my own small part to help share someone’s story, or help their voice be heard, is what keeps me going!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While I do present the news as an anchor, I also have an active role in writing, proofreading, and coming up with story pitches. We all wear a lot of hats in the newsroom. I can pick up a microphone and be out in the field when needed to report or conduct interviews.
Sometimes, I feel like a detective, researcher, writer, or even a therapist, all in one! I work to inform, educate, and empower people.
I specialize mostly in breaking news. We are showing people what is going on right then and there, as we work to get answers in real time. We always aim to get people information as quickly as possible– while also, of course, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
I also feel great pride in the feature stories and highlighting people who are inspiring or who have overcome obstacles. For example, I interviewed a South Fulton Police officer who saved a man from a burning car. In fact, I was there when the two actually reunited for the first time since the crash! Or, another example, is a young metro Atlanta woman who lost her eye in an accident, but has now made it her mission to create safe sunglasses for everyone.
The honor of being entrusted with someone’s story is never lost on me, and I love that I can give them a platform to share it with a larger audience.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
What I have always aimed to do, and what is most important to me, is building trust. The reason I got into journalism was my love of people and learning more about them. (What can I say? I love to yap.)
But in all seriousness, I am a person who lives in this community and loves this community, too. Whether it is meeting people in person at events like parades or charity fundraisers, or chatting through social media, I always want viewers to get to know me. And, at the same time, I want to learn what matters to them.
It may seem trivial, but whether it’s a Facebook live chat, or sharing a silly TikTok or Instagram post that makes people smile (such as showing off my adorable cat, Yam) I hope people learn that I am not someone who is talking “at” them, but, rather, “with” them– to know that I am someone they can trust, who is on their side, and who works hard to get them the right information.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karli_barnett
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karlibarnett
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlibarnett/
- Twitter: https://x.com/KarliBarnett
