Class of
2002
Bio: Eric Kahnert anchors 9NEWS weekend mornings with Aristea Brady, and also reports during the week. Eric says he’s blessed with a great family, awesome job, and wonderful co-workers. I have a lot to smile about! On that note, you should know that not all of Eric’s teeth are the originals. He lost one of his front teeth many years ago while playing hockey. Hopefully you’ll never have to see him gap-toothed!
A Minnesota native, Eric traded in the snow boots for flip-flops and headed out to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles to receive his broadcast journalism degree. Go Trojans! After graduation, he headed back to Minnesota to start his career as a Reporter and Anchor at the NBC affiliate in Rochester, MN. After a short stint there, Eric was off to Albuquerque, New Mexico to work for another NBC affiliate as an Anchor and Reporter. Sticking with the NBC affiliates, he moved to Denver in 2009. Working for a nationally recognized station like 9NEWS is a real honor. I am proud to be part of such a dedicated team of professional journalists!
Eric has won numerous first place awards for his reporting, anchoring, and breaking news coverage over the years. His investigative reports have uncovered corruption, led to arrests, and have sparked policy changes. Eric feels journalists have the unique opportunity and responsibility to reveal both positive and negative issues going on in the community. Although he has interviewed serial killers, politicians, sports heroes and celebrities, Eric’s favorite interviews are with people out in the community. I am fortunate to be able to meet so many great people in Colorado on a daily basis, and tell their story.
Eric lives in Denver with his wife and their dog.
ATVN positions and duties: Anchor, Reporter, Editor, Photographer
How did ATVN prepare you for your current job?
ATVN gave me real world experience, and prepared me for the duties I perform everyday. The ATVN staff and journalism professors gave me the skills to be successful in a small market news station, and quickly move into the larger markets. ATVN taught me to push myself to be the best and always be willing to learn new things. Knowing how to write, shoot and edit in college still benefits me today.
What is your advice to aspiring journalists?
Work on your storytelling ability. Put yourself in the shoes of the viewer and ask, “What would make this story interesting?” Humanize your stories, so viewers can relate to what you are saying. Don’t throw facts and numbers at someone without explaining how it will affect them. Work on your writing and be conversational. Every time you look into
that camera you should feel as if you are simply holding a conversation with your viewer. Tell your story visually as well; sequence and the pace of pictures are just as important as the words over them. Remember, TV is a visual medium; therefore, work on your editing skills. Listen to your instructors; they know what they’re talking about.
What are the top three skills college journalism students should be working on in order to be prepared for their first broadcasting job?
1. Writing 2. Editing 3. Interviewing
What is the most important thing a college journalist should know when he or she is trying to negotiate his or her first job?
Don’t do it for the money, do it for the experience. Make sure you understand your contract’s “outs” and the small print. Find out how the other employees like their positions, and WHERE some of the other people in that position have gone. Be sure to understand the duties of the position before signing. Make sure you will have opportunities to move up or try new positions to gain experience; it will make yourself more marketable.
What prepared you most for your current job?
Working hard on my writing and editing in class and at ATVN. Getting my resume tape done early and sending out A LOT of copies. Understanding what my first job would be all about. Listening to my instructors and taking their advice.
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