A Q&A with Fulbright College Alumna Jordan Betts
Jordan Betts
Reporter at KSHB-TV in Kansas City,
2015 Graduate of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media
In this conversation, Betts talks about learning from “the best of the best” in journalism at the U of A, moving to Wisconsin to start her broadcast career in meteorology and reporting, heading back to Kansas City where she recently won an Emmy for her coverage of an EF-4 tornado, covering the Kansas City Chief’s triumphant visit to the Super Bowl in 2020, her volunteer work and work to help destigmatize teen suicide and other mental health issues, and the importance of never losing sight of who you are.
Betts at Power & Light covering the Kansas City Chiefs on Super Bowl Sunday in Feb. 2020.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your career, what you studied in college, and how the two relate to one another?
My career path is a little unusual and crazy compared to I think any other business.
Before I get into that, I studied Broadcast Journalism (never changed my major). My senior year I started courses online at Mississippi State for meteorology.
A week before graduation, a TV recruiter found my weather reel on YouTube and asked if she could send it around to some TV stations. The next thing I knew, I was packing my bags to leave for Wisconsin and graduating college!
I spent two years in Wausau, Wisconsin as their Mid-Day Forecaster. I moved to Green Bay for less than a year as their fill-in traffic anchor, reporter and web producer.
Now, I have called Kansas City home as I am a reporter at 41 Action News (KSHB) since 2018.
Everything I learned in college, I use in my everyday career. From learning how to write a package from how to find the best sound bites, I learned from the best of the best in the journalism department.
Betts, left, interviewing actor Jason Sudeikis.
Q: What have been one or two of the most interesting or exciting accomplishments for you in your career or life post-college?
Oh gosh, so many great things have happened since graduating in 2015.
Recently, I won an Emmy in the Breaking News Category for our coverage on an EF-4 Tornado that hit our area last year.
That day was truly exhausting and frightening at the same time. But to be able to save lives and then win an Emmy for our work makes it all worth it.
Then, covering the Kansas City Chiefs going to the Super Bowl and reporting from the parade is something I will never forget.
Alumna Jordan Betts.
Q: What was one of your favorite memories of your time at the college and why?
That has to be my time at UATV. One night, Sawyer Buccy, who is now a reporter in Tulsa, and I got paired up to anchor together and it only happened once for a reason.
I could not keep up with the promoter, our scripts were all mixed up, everything was just going wrong.
As a result, we laughed through the majority of the show.
Q: Now that you’ve achieved so much in your career, what advice would you give to students?
Never lose sight of who you are, ever.
I have been told by numerous people to change different things about myself on TV, so people would like me more. But, changing who I am isn’t who I am as a person.
I did not take any of their advice and look where I am at today. I made it to a top 30 TV market at age 25!
Q: What do you like to do during your time outside of work?
Does sleep count? I volunteer at one of our local hospitals and love being able to put a smile on patients’ faces.
Q: What’s up next on the horizon for you?
I am going to continue my work in reporting about teen suicide. It used to be a topic that journalists were told not to speak about, but I am changing that stigma.
Our nation needs to see the importance of mental health, especially with our teens. This topic really has my heart.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add or let readers know?
WOO PIG SOOIE!