Meet the Media: Q&A With Susie Wargin, 9NEWS (KUSA-TV)
Happy New Year! Welcome to the our first installment of “Meet the Media” for 2010 and what better way to start the year than with the morning sports and fitness reporter for Denver’s 9NEWS - Susie Wargin! In our interview with Susie, she talks about her history in radio and TV, PR pet peeves, social media and who her dream interview would be. Enjoy and happy 2010!
Xstatic PR: What’s your professional background? In other words, how did you get to where you are today?
Susie Wargin, 9News: I joined 9NEWS in September of 2001 as the Prep Sports Anchor. Three years later, I was hired to be the morning weekday Sports Anchor for 9News 5am and 6am (which now also includes 7 & 8am on My20!). I also host the Steve Fairchild Show in the fall and recently won my first Emmy after years of being the Susan Lucci of Denver TV!
I was born in Denver and raised in Broomfield, and began my communications career in Fort Collins as an intern in radio, while going to college at Colorado State University. After I graduated from CSU, KIIX-AM hired me as a Board Operator (which is a fancy title for a “button pusher”). Like most people that get into radio, my dream was to be a DJ. That dream came true in December of ‘92 when I was asked to DJ Christmas day for KTCL (which at that time was the FM sister station to KIIX).
From there, I worked three years of overnights and weekends. But paying dues is part of the business and in November of 1995 I landed the midday shift at KBPI, where I gladly “Rocked the Rockies” for almost 9 years. While I love music, my main passion is sports. In February of 1998 I began anchoring sports updates during “The Zoo” on 850-KOA and eventually became the first female sports reporter for KOA. During that time I also spent two years as the radio sideline reporter for Colorado State football games and hosted a variety of sports programming for KOA.
X: Has sports always been your passion?
SW: Yes, sports and music.
X: Why and how did you make the transition from radio to TV?
SW: Always wanted to do TV but went the radio route first. I got an internship at 9News in Spring of 2001. The prep anchor knew she was leaving in June and took me under her wing and totally helped groom my writing and on camera presence so I could apply for her job (which I somehow got without any TV experience – crazy)
X: Which of your stories has been the most memorable since you joined 9News in ‘01?
SW: There have been a lot. Being the first to do an in-depth story on Clint Hurdle’s daughter with Prader-Willi Syndrome was very special. Some of my travels have been very memorable also – World Series in 2007 (Fenway Park) tops them all.
X: What is your take on the ideal PR professional when it comes to helping you with your job?
SW: Ones that pitch great, visual stories with great catches. We are always looking for good stories and can’t find all the good ones on our own so I love the PR folks that understand you have to have a “catch” – something that will make viewers watch. Some PR folks just pitch to pitch and don’t think about why they would want to watch a story on their client (other than the fact they are getting paid to get them press!).
X: Do you have a PR pet peeve?
SW: Can’t stand the bland pitch. Have this author on just because he/she is paying me. It would be great if they could think outside the box and think – why would I want to watch this story/segment? Is it “teasable?” Would it keep someone around for 10 minutes of a newscast if they thought it was a great story? If not, then it probably needs some work!
X: How has social media changed the way you gather information for stories or report on them?
SW: I LOVE Twitter and Facebook – I use Twitter to gather a lot of info myself and also disperse breaking sports news. With Facebook, I have a Fan Page that I just use for work and put a lot of sports related stuff on there and some personal stuff. I also have a personal page that is just for folks I know (although I’m up to almost 500 and I have a hard time believing I actually know that many people!). It’s tough in my position as a native because there’s people who went to the same high school as me and they send me a friend request because we have mutual friends…but I don’t actually know who they are. I feel bad sending them a note back referring them to my Fan Page, but if I don’t know them personally, I don’t befriend them.
X: Who is the one person who you haven’t interviewed that you’d like to? What would you ask?
SW: Lance Armstrong. To ride with him! I’d try to think of a few questions he’s never been asked, but I doubt there are any. I’d just like to ride with him and talk to him that way.
X: This one is going to be a toughie for you, but who is your favorite sports team?
SW: Toss up between the Rockies and Broncos. It used to be Broncos first, but I’ve fallen in love with baseball and the Rockies since I started covering them when I was at KOA. I have a lot of personal relationships with the front office folks and the players and it’s just a special organization to me.
X: Who/what did you last download to your iPod?
SW: A crazy version of “Gives You Hell” from All American Rejects along with a few Daughtry songs. Also just put in a bunch of retro tunes that I forgot I had: “88 lines about 44 women” from the Nails, Adam Ant, and a few others. There’s a couple other songs I put on there, but I keep my MP3 player on shuffle and it hasn’t brought those songs up yet so I can’t remember what they are. My players seems to play favorites and I hear some of the same songs on every run or ride – I think I need to delete a couple and throw it for a loop…its got a mind of its own!
X: Seems like everyone has some advice for Tiger Woods right now. What’s yours?
SW: Lay low and get your family life in order if possible. He doesn’t need to work (I don’t think anyway), so step aside and figure out your mental state. Everyone has their skeletons and issues. It’s facing them that is the hardest part.
X: Finally, you’re always training for something, what’s next on the race schedule?
SW: Full Ironman (first one) in St. George Utah in May. Just did my first full marathon in Las Vegas in December, so this will be the next big challenge!
