STORY BY RICK Woodall
Nearly two decades into a decorated broadcast journalism career spanning work as a reporter, anchor, news director, and now president and general manager of WRCB Local 3 News in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Callie McGinnis Starnes (07C) is an unabashed champion of her profession who takes seriously her responsibility for cultivating its future.
That desire often has motivated her to make the short drive back to Berry, where she enthusiastically shares her experience, expertise and connections with those now walking the halls of the Laughlin Building, home to the college’s national award-winning student-media platforms (see “Turn it up!” on page 8). Whether it’s critiquing a resume or demo reel or, in some cases, extending a job offer, the former Alumni Council vice president is always on the lookout for ways to leverage Berry’s alumni network to the benefit of talented students and fellow grads.
The recent renovation of the NBC affiliate’s broadcast studio offered the chance to do exactly that, resulting in a beautiful “new-to-them” set for Viking Fusion, an exciting job opportunity for a graduating senior and an unexpected alumni connection in the midst of it all.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Starnes declared. “While I would love to be able to write Berry a million-dollar check, that’s just not where I am in my life. But this was something I could do.”
Connecting the dots
From the moment planning began for Local 3’s studio transformation, Starnes knew she wanted to preserve the old set for use by others, ultimately arranging donations of equipment to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Ringgold High School in Northwest Georgia, the Chattanooga Theatre Center and her beloved Berry.
“There wasn’t a piece of our old set that went in the trash,” she shared. “Being good stewards of what our company has entrusted us with was really important to me and our team.
“It was amazing to see the set that had served us for about 10 years recycled so that it could go to places where we knew it would have a direct impact on students with an interest in our industry,” she added.
One person who was particularly excited by news of Berry’s involvement was Gary Levitt (80C, 81G) (pictured with Starnes at a trade show in Las Vegas) vice president of sales, marketing and administration for Orlando-based FX Design Group, the company tasked with developing Local 3’s new look. He and Starnes had never met prior to an introductory Zoom call with other team members, but Berry afforded an immediate connection.
“At a minimum, both of us being Berry alumni opened up the conversation to different levels above and beyond pure business,” Levitt explained. “Two alumni who had never met working on a project that benefited Berry students was great.”
The network ties only grew stronger on “demo” day, when a team of Berry students and faculty including Dr. Curt Hersey (93C), communication chair, arrived with a box truck to assist with the process of dismantling the old set so the equipment could be transported to Berry.
Among that group was Addison Howard (24C) (seen with Starnes), a student with Chattanooga ties whom Starnes had first met during a previous trip to campus. Knowing the soon-to-be graduate possessed impressive experience, roots in communication (his dad works in the radio business; his mother is an author) and the esteem of the Berry faculty, she made sure to introduce him to her news director; a job offer quickly materialized.
“He embodies exactly what you expect when you hire a Berry student,” Starnes related. “He is incredibly intentional, has a tremendous work ethic, and thoughtfully brings his head, heart and hands into everything he does.
“Addison has a tremendous passion for serving the Spanish-speaking population with quality journalism,” she added. “He’s done some really phenomenal work.”
The bilingual journalist is grateful for the opportunity, marveling, “It’s crazy to see life’s dominoes fall and take me to where I am today. If I hadn’t mustered the courage to approach Callie after Curt Hersey’s class spotlighting successful alums and potential career paths, it’s entirely possible I wouldn’t be working with her at Local 3 News today.”
Always Berry
Howard is the third Berry alum Starnes has had a hand in hiring during her years at Local 3, following Sarah Wilson Bryant (04C) and Allie Pritchett (18C) (seen donning Berry masks while working together at WRCB during the COVID-19 pandemic), each of whom spent approximately three years at the station before pursuing other opportunities.
With current students actively exploring ways in which they can maximize the potential of the news desk, monitors, studio furniture and lit backdrop they’ve inherited from Local 3, it’s easy to imagine others following a similar path.
“When we saw the set put together, we knew we had to use it as soon as possible,” said Dr. Brian Carroll, a longtime member of Berry’s communication faculty. “We’re so thankful to WRCB and to Callie Starnes and her crew for making a lot of people’s dreams come true. It helped us see the future.”
For Starnes, the project represents a full-circle moment, as she helped to paint the previous set while attending Berry. It was there that she built on experience first gained at Jackson County Comprehensive High School in Jefferson, Georgia, where one of her earliest journalism memories was delivering news of the 9/11 attacks while anchoring closed-circuit morning announcements.
Drawn to Berry by the opportunity to gain immediate experience as a freshman (with the added benefit of shopping for groceries and spending “one-on-one” time with her grandmother, who lived in Rome), Starnes eventually rose through the ranks to become station manager for what was then called Viking Vision. In that role, she gained valuable insight managing others and forming teams.
She’s proud to point out that the walls of the station manager’s office in Laughlin are the same blue she once painted them. The Princess Bride poster she picked out is still there as well, as is her heart for Berry and its students. By extending a helping hand whenever possible, she hopes to send a clear message that alumni are invested in their success.
“In my daily life, I am constantly looking for people with a love of journalism,” she expressed. “My hope would be that in some small way maybe there will be a student or two who use those tools to find a passion and join an industry that I think is critical now more than ever.”
Students and faculty grab a quick photo with Starnes while in Chattanooga for teardown of the Local 3 News set.
Speaking for his department and as a member of Berry’s alumni network, Hersey voiced great appreciation for those who prioritize students in the midst of already busy lives, citing their positive influence on the communication department and all over campus. Special admiration was reserved for Starnes, whom he and Carroll once taught.
“From being a young reporter to overseeing a newsroom to raising a family and now managing an entire station, Callie has always been excited about supporting our students and her alma mater,” Hersey praised. “She is a perfect example of the spirit of Berry in action.”
That’s news worth reporting!
