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Meet Trailblazer Georgia McCarthur

Today we’d like to introduce you to Georgia McCarthur.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Every since I was a young girl, I would always define myself as a “curious questioner”. When I was a kid, I often asked a ton of questions, why this why that. I got on my parent’s nerves being too inquisitive. My curiosity got me in alot of trouble and one day I said it will be the center of my career and the way I make a living. From there, I grew to be even more curious. Since grade school, I have been involved in broadcast journalism. In elementary school, I did the morning announcements and in middle and high I covered sports and took a variety of broadcasting courses. I attended the University of West Georgia to seek a degree in journalism, to my luck they had a plethora of options. An assistant news director position was opened at The WOLF Internet Radio and from there, I was a co-host and board operation of a political show called, “The Power Hour”, it was started by Jared Yamamoto a notable news producer at WSB radio. I continued to follow in the footsteps of other successful alumni from my school. I joined WUTV which was the University of West Georgia television station, where I was a multi-media journalist and anchor. There, I covered a wide variety of stories. Students had questions and I gave them answers from rent prices increasing, to biases, prejudice, racism, and many other social issues. I even covered the presidential election and Georgia governor election down to the runoff with Stacy Abrams and Brian Kemp.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely not! You know when you come across so many great opportunities, of course, there will be obstacles, especially in this tough industry. What a lot of people do not know about me is I was apprehensive, but the older, I get I have learned to deal with those matters. A the end of the day, I am only human just like everyone else. But being a story-teller, I know I have to use the platform I am given to be more relatable, especially in today direction where people are kind of afraid to be themselves. But my passion for journalisms outweighs any obstacles that I challenged with. There are so many aspects to journalism behind the scenes and front and center. The advice that I have for women is to be yourself, as cliché as it is. This industry is so small yet so big, what sets you apart is being you because only you can define yourself. If not, then you will only become what everyone else wants you to be. I would add be very aggressive but humble. You have to be assertive because that is another step in being yourself, “close mouth do not get fed” in this industry. I like the quote, “to be passive is to let others decide for you. To be aggressive is to decide for others. To be assertive is to decide for yourself. That has been the steps, I have taken on the path God is giving me. Nobody understands the determination and passion, I put into each and every day but my family and friends, you have to have people with like-minds around you as well. It is a blessing and I am forever grateful.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. What sets you apart from others?
I am a News Trainee at Fox 5 Atlanta. It is very prestigious to be apart of the Fox 5 team. I am in the process of pursuing my dream of being a reporter and multi-media journalist. Like any field, you have to work your way up and “pay your dues.”

The Fox 5 training program begins with an intensive week-long, hands-on technical training. I am dispatched to different locations whether I am following breaking news or developing stories, where I receive daily guidance and feedback from executive producers, reporters, and news directors. Whether it’s a news director or EP (Executive Producer) reviewing my packages, evaluating my pitch and writing skills or a veteran correspondent critiquing storytelling,

Fox 5 challenges news trainees to continually hone their journalistic skills and capabilities through the training program.

What sets me apart from others?

I am super optimistic and really not afraid to be assertive but super emphatic as well with lots of integrity.
If you think about it, practically every company would want an optimistic team player. After all, who wants to hire a Debbie Downer? Being an optimistic person can help motivate a team when times get tough, and I am quicker to tackle harder assignments that others might be reluctant to take on. For example, I met Congressman Lewis, an American Hero and one of the most courageous people during the Civil Rights movement by just simply having the courage to walk up to him introduce myself and say Hello.

I get to conduct interviews for the reporters that they are able to use in their own stories and lend a hand when they need assistance. I write and edit my own stories and shadow producers, reporters and photographers in the newsrooms and take what they give me and apply it as my own set of skills I get the privilege to work alongside my co-workers and learn from amazing people in a top ten market! I get to lend a hand on many stories in the newscast that help me become an even better budding journalist.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding my passion in life and relying on my faith in God has worked for me truly. If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breath you will be successful. As far as networking, you really have to sell yourself to others that are super successful in whatever industry you decide to take a job in. If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best. No one starts out being the “know it all”. I would say once you find your passion reach out and surround yourself will likeminded individuals and things will fall into place. If what you are passionate about is tied to your destiny, everything will happen according to your purpose. You determine your destiny by the actions you take and you do not get anywhere being lazy! Be you, believe in yourself, and be humble!

One last thing, have self-confidence, job searching can leave your ego a little bruised. From not hearing back from employers to reading listings for jobs you really want (but don’t have the qualifications for), it’s easy to lose your confidence. But it’s important to be self-confident during your search. Self-confidence will give you the gumption to go after the jobs you really want—and explain to a potential employer why you really deserve the job. If you doubt yourself and your ability to do the job, you might subconsciously send a signal to your interviewer that they should, too.

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Image Credit:
Siri Emereje on the personal photo, Fox 5 News Team on the rest of the other photos

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