Meet Natisha Lance of 11Alive – WXIA in Buckhead

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natisha Lance.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up in Minnesota, I had one dream – to be on Broadway. I was that theater kid. Not only was in choir, and all the musicals, but I also did professional theater in high school which caused me to miss quite a bit of school. When it came for college, I envisioned going NYU to study musical theater, but my parents had other plans. They wanted me to follow in my sister’s footsteps and attend Spelman College. I went kicking and screaming. It was the last place I wanted to be. To make matters worse, I became an English major and drama minor because my parents refused to pay for a full drama degree. Every day, I called home crying, but by the end of first semester, I had found my groove and loved it. My goal was still set on Broadway. Throughout my college career, I plotted ways I could live in New York. It was the only place I ever wanted to live. So, I interned there, every summer, regardless of the job. My junior year, I scored an internship with Good Morning America of the recommendation of an upper-classman friend. All I knew is that I grew up watching GMA and it seemed like it would be fun, especially with the summer concert series. Much to my surprise, I fell in love with journalism. There was an energy in the newsroom that I had never felt before, different from being on the stage. I felt a sense of responsibility and authority by knowing important information before anyone else and then deciding the best way to deliver the information to the world. Gulp!

When I got back to school, I had a new immediate goal, without forgetting my life long dream. I cross-registered at Clark Atlanta University to get some journalism courses under my belt and networked my butt off. By the time I graduated, I had a job at a very small station as a producer and reporter. A few years later I enrolled in graduate school at Columbia University. While in school, I interned at ABC again, but this time at 20/20. That’s when I realized I wanted to focus on long-form storytelling. At the end of school, I was offered a Master’s Fellowship from CNN. I had to decide if I would take an entry-level job with ABC or take the fellowship that would bring me in at a higher level, with a higher salary. My mentor told me, “Take the title and money. You can always come back”. I took her advice and spent nearly 11 years at CNN and HLN.

I started out as a producer. A few years into my time, there a stroke of luck put me in front of the camera as a reporter. I worked as both for years, covering stories all over the country.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road is ever smooth – mine is no different. My biggest struggle was making the transition to a full-time reporter. After being severely burnt out from pulling double duty as a producer and reporter, I decided I had to make a choice about my focus. I wanted to report full time but knew the only way to do it effectively would be by devoting all my attention down that path. When I presented it to my managers they said: “We love your reporting, but you’re also a great producer.” I was frustrated, but ultimately knew if I wanted to grow in the way I needed and wanted, I would have to leave. It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve made professionally. I had to lean on my faith which led to 11 Alive. Several people from the station approached me at different times.  The last time the timing was right. I learned a valuable lesson in advocating for myself. You can’t wait for or rely on anyone else to make your dreams come true or control the direction of your career path.

Please tell us about 11Alive – WXIA – what should we know?
11 Alive is the NBC affiliate station in Atlanta. The station prides itself on being the station Where Atlanta Speaks. We want to break down that wall with our viewers and create a direct line to us over social media or in person to tell us the stories they think need to be told – nothing is off limits. I am an Anchor/Reporter with the station . You can primarily find me on Up Late, our 11 pm newscast.