Today we’d like to introduce you to LaKia Starks.
Thanks for sharing your story with us LaKia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I received my Bachelors and Masters from Troy University ( located in Troy, Al), Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism and my Masters in Strategic Communication. After completing my Bachelors in Dec. 2013, I started working as a producer at Alabama News Network in Feb. 2014. When I first started, I wanted to be a reporter so I was excited to get my foot in the door. While I was there, I was granted the opportunity to be an Entertainment Reporter. My job was to produce the segment and it would air on Friday nights. I really enjoyed doing that, I got the chance to get my shine on for a little while. As time went on, I realized it was time to take a leap of faith. So, one Saturday at work, I was going through a lot in my personal life and decided to apply for a producer position in Charlotte, they called me on that Tuesday. Queen City, here I come!
I moved there in Mar. 2016. Now, that’s when my life really took off! I started working for FOX 46 Charlotte as a producer. As a producer in a big city, I was given opportunities to host events, be a freelance professor and meet some dope people. Fast forward to Mar. 2018, a life event (A BABY LAKIA… LITERALLY) happened and I had to start looking for a job closer to home. Mar. 2019 I started working as a producer for FOX 5 Atlanta. When I say getting that phone call in Dillard’s was one of the happiest moments of my life. I thought they didn’t want me, lol. So, now, I’m in the A-T-L doing my thing. I’m just getting started, but my goal is to be the best producer/journalist I can be while being a blessing to others!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Getting where I am today hasn’t always been easy, but I can honestly say it made me go harder. When I first moved to Charlotte, I left everyone behind. I had no family in Charlotte, so being there alone was tough. I had to find friends, meet new coworkers and wonder if people would find me cool. On top of that, I was in a distance relationship and that was a job in itself. I will NEVER do distance again! But that made it hard for me to really focus on my career. It was so hard that I was trying to leave my job at the station to become an insurance agent… and I don’t know ANYTHING about insurance. At this point, I knew I had to get back to Troy. I was really ready to give it all up. Then, in Nov. 2018, my ex broke up with me… on Thanksgiving at that. I thought my life was over because in my head things were just about to get better for us. I was crying every day, until one day my Mom sent me a message that said, ” when the music change, you young lady keep dancing.” At that very moment, I realized that break-up was the BEST thing to ever happen to me. That’s when all of the great things in my career and personal life started to prosper. You know the saying, “when one chapter closes another one begins?” Well, yeah that was my life because that next chapter turned out to be the best chapter ever!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I work for FOX 5 Atlanta as a producer, not to be confused with a music producer. I specialize in writing factual news stories and presenting them to our local viewers. In lamest terms, I write stories for the people you all see on the news. Everything that you see on your TV screen, I am pretty much responsible for that. My job is 90 percent preparation and 10 percent execution. I spend hours preparing a newscast, then I go to the booth and watch my craft across you all television screens from 10 am – 11 am on FOX 5 (make sure y’all tune in). As a producer, I also receive pitches from publicists in hopes of getting their clients on for an interview. That’s the fun part. My job has a lot of perks, you get to meet a lot of prominent people in the industry. I would say I’m known for being a producer who loves what she does. I am always looking for ways to perfect my craft and be a blessing to others. As a company, I am most proud of our teamwork. When I first started working at FOX 5, I found out I was going to be launching producer for the 10 am newscast. I was so nervous, I’m already the new kid and you mean to tell me I have to be the first producer for a brand new show. Nevertheless, we all come together as a team and we continue to make the show success on a daily basis. And I believe that’s what sets us apart from others. Our 10 am show is a different feel from the other morning show newscasts. You’re able to get your top stories, the latest entertainment news, what’s trending and be introduced to some dope people here in Atlanta. So, don’t forget to tune in Mon-Fri at 10 am.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Mmm, if I had to start over, what would I have done differently? Nothing! And I say that, because every hurdle I had to jump, every heartache I experienced and the blessings I received is what made me the person I am today. If I didn’t have any of that along my journey, then I would still be trying to figure out who I am and what my purpose is in life. I needed to face all of that. God gives his toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.
Contact Info:
- Email: lakia.starks@foxtv.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakia4real/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakia.starks
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
