News Babes 2003
News Babes 2004
News Babes 2005
Discuss
Austin's news babes.
Austin's Top News Babes 2002
Discuss
Austin's news babes.
1
Coco Douglas of KEYE 42 was born and raised
in
Austin, Texas but she calls Elgin home, too. She graduated from Elgin
High School in 1992 and went straight into The University of Texas at
Austin. Her identical twin sister, Miel, lives in Seattle, and works as
a pilot for Alaska Airlines. Coco returned to Austin in June 2000, after
a three year absence. She's happy to be home - close to friends and
family. Her mother and stepfather live in Elgin, while her dad and two
younger brothers live in Red Rock, near Bastrop.
After studying abroad in Germany, and graduating
from U.T., Coco left Austin, Texas for Austin, Minnesota. She started
her career at KAAL-TV as the 6 & 10pm producer. Realizing producing
wasn't the right path for her, she moved to night-side reporting. Coco
spent six months in Minnesota before she made her way back to Texas. She
spent about two and a half years at KAMR-TV in Amarillo as a Reporter
and the 5pm Anchor, as well as the 6 & 10pm anchor. She received an
award from the Amarillo Education Association for her reports on
Education, as well as for her mentoring work with local middle school
and high school students.
Last year, Coco did not even appear in the top ten list in the news babes
poll.
2
Katherine
Kisiel FOX 7 News in the Morning
Katherine Kisiel joins Joe Bickett and Gordon Smith on FOX 7 NEWS In The
Morning after more than a year as FOX 7’s weekend news anchor. Before coming
to work at FOX 7, Katherine’s professional credentials include work as a news
anchor in Kennewick, Washington, Yakima, Washington and Yuma, Arizona. In
addition to anchoring newscasts, Katherine has extensive reporting experience.
She has received several awards from the Arizona Associated Press, including 1st
place for Spot News and 1st place for Live Team Coverage. Katherine received a
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing from the
University of Arizona-Tucson.
This was Katherines second year in the top ten list, moving up from 7th in
the rankings last year.
3
Elizabeth Dannheim KEYE 42
Elizabeth has appeared out of the blue and has appeared on the top 10 list for
the first year.
Elizabeth attended Texas Tech University and
graduated in December of 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Broadcast Journalism. Before graduating, Elizabeth was offered a news
reporting job with ABC 28 News in Lubbock. After reporting the news in
Lubbock for two years, Elizabeth made the jump to Salt Lake City where
she reported for KUTV for four years. Eager to return to her home state,
Elizabeth accepted a job at KEYE in February of 2003.
Elizabeth had the exciting opportunity of
covering the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Reporting on the kidnapping of
Elizabeth Smart affected Elizabeth the most. "Seeing the Salt Lake
community come together in such a trying time was amazing. Even more
uplifting was the Smart family's unwavering faith." In 2001,
Elizabeth was awarded the Utah Broadcasters Association Award for Best
Spot News Story.
4 Kim Barnes
of KVUE 24 "I'm
proud to be one of the veterans in the KVUE newsroom. This is my 10th year here.
I've been anchoring on the weekends since 1996 and that includes through two
pregnancies! During that time, I've also done a lot of reporting. I've covered
some really big national stories. I was in Centennial Park during the Atlanta
Olympics when the bomb went off. I provided live network coverage and reports
for viewers here. I also covered the Branch Davidian stand-off in Waco from the
day of the attack through the trial. And, of course, I've covered more stories
than I could name, right here in Austin. My favorite stories are about real
people doing remarkable things." - Kim Barnes
Kim Barnes also came in fourth in last years poll.
5 Sabra
Gertsch KEYE 42 finds herself in the heart of Texas after growing up along
Salt Lake City's Wasatch Front, home of the greatest snow on earth! Instead of
skiing on the slopes, Sabra spent thirteen years in ballet studios studying with
The San Francisco Ballet School, and the School of Ballet West with whom she
performed several times, including the role of Clara in William Christensen's The
Nutcracker. Stepping off the stage and into the stands, Sabra played her
favorite role as sister to two younger brothers, cheering them on to all-state
football achievements and Montana State University track scholarships. Sabra
tried a bit of everything before being bitten by the news bug: singing, dancing,
and acting. Then, surrounded by wonderful mentors at the University of Utah, and
prodded by a mother and father who support all her passions, she set her sights
on becoming a roving reporter. Right now she is savoring her opportunity to work
in a city that thrives on intellect and politics, and one that offers a
potpourri of culture and technology.
http://keyetv.com/anchors/sabrag/
Sabra came in fifth in last years poll also.
6
Wendy Woolfolk of KXAN 36 was last years number one
newsbabe. She started anchoring weekday
Firstcast in March 2000, after reporting for News 36 at 6 and 10 pm for more
than a year. She received the honorable mention for best reporter from the
Texas Associated Press which included her work in the Tina Cornelius murder case
and the story of missing atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair.
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=144813
7
Kimberly Ball KEYE 42 Kimberly was born in Baltimore, Maryland but raised
in Dallas and considers herself a true Texan at heart. A graduate of Bishop
Dunne High School, Kimberly attended Catholic schools her entire life. She says
one of the most exciting things about college life was the chance to put up her
school uniform and wear her own clothes for once. Before becoming a professional
broadcaster, Kimberly had the opportunity to do something that many young women
across the nation have only dreamed about. As a cheerleader for the world famous
Dallas Cowboys, Kimberly cheered them onto victory in Superbowl XXVIII at
Georgia's Peach Bowl. She'll forever cherish the memory and the lifelong friends
she made.
8
Ilona Torok
KVUE 24 Ilona came to KVUE in Feb. 2000 from her hometown of Phoenix, Az.
Before coming to Austin, Ilona was the weekend meteorologist and
reporter at KNPX in Phoenix. After spending a year in the "Valley
of the Sun" forecasting -- you guessed it -- a lot of sunshine and
other weather events ranging from microbursts to towering dust clouds
known as haboobs, Ilona was ready for the challenge of forecasting
severe weather. And what better place to do it than Texas?
Ilona is a proud Wildcat! She graduated in May of 1996 from the
University of Arizona in Tucson, with a degree in atmospheric sciences.
After graduation, Ilona headed to the Pacific Northwest where she worked
as the morning meteorologist and reporter for KDRV in Medford, Ore.
While there, Ilona was recognized by the National Weather Service for
providing outstanding weather support for Northern California and
Southern Oregon.
Ilona is a member of the American Meteorological Society and was
awarded their Seal of Approval.
The most frequent question Ilona has been asked here in Texas is
about here name. If you think it's sounds unique, you're right. Ilona is
100 percent Hungarian. Ilona was the first one in her family born in the
United States after her family immigrated from Hungary and
Czechoslovakia.
When Ilona's not at work, she spends her time outdoors entertaining
her 75-pound Saint Bernard, Maxwell, working out, and snow skiing.
You can catch Ilona Torok's weather reports on Saturday's at 6:00 and
10:00 p.m., and Sunday's at 5:30 and 10 p.m. on KVUE News.
9
Teresa Rodriguez of KEYE 42 was last years number two newsbabe.
She grew up the youngest child of an Air Force
Master Sergeant. As the baby of the family she was very shy and it came as a
real surprise to her family when Teresa got into broadcasting. "Now I get
paid to talk," Teresa jokes. With her family, Teresa has lived and traveled
around the world to places including Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy and many other
parts of Europe. Her father retired in New Mexico to be close to family who live
in that state and across southern Texas. Teresa and her husband Brad met and
married in New Mexico. They've been the foster parents of two children. Brad and
Teresa are grateful to live in Austin; they say it's a place in which they've
always dreamed of living.
http://keyetv.com/anchors/teresar/
10
Fox 7 Jenni Lee Anchor/Reporter Jenni Lee came to work for FOX 7
NEWS on September 11, 2001 and immediately became instrumental in the station’s
coverage of the terrorist attacks and the impact on Austin and Central Texas. A
graduate of UT Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism, Jenni joins FOX 7 from KBTX
in Bryan/College Station where she was 6 & 10pm anchor. Jenni is co-anchor
of FOX 7 NEWS weekend newscasts in addition to reporting from the field during
the week.
During her career, Jenni has covered some major news stories in Texas,
including two of the most controversial executions in Texas history: Karla Faye
Tucker in 1998 and Gary Graham in 2000. She was also on the scene covering the
Texas A&M Bonfire collapse.
Jenni has been very active when it comes to community service. She has worked
with the American Heart Association, was a board member with the child advocacy
center Scotty's House, and has served as a board member for “Health For All,”
a project that provides free health care for the working poor.
When she’s not busy working in front of the camera or for the community,
Jenni enjoys eating, lifting weights and reading.
http://www.fox7.com/ (click on Fox 7 News
Team)
13
(2002 top ten) Judy
Maggio of KVUE 24
Voted "Best News Anchor in Austin" for the last 11 years by Austin
Chronicle readers, and Austin Communicator of the year 1997, Judy Maggio is one
of the most familiar faces on television in Central Texas. She doesn't like to
be reminded that she's one of the senior anchors in Austin television news.
Judy's worked at one station, KVUE, her entire career.
Judy is a Longhorn through-and-through: journalism class of '81. One of the
biggest thrills of her career was her one-on-one interview with Lady Bird
Johnson in the spring of '96.
http://www.kvue.com/news/anchors/maggio.html
21
(2002 top ten) Jennie Blankenship KEYE 42 Television reporting on KEYE in
Austin is a joy for Jennie Blankenship. It is a combination of everything she
loves: journalism, visual arts, performance, and interaction with other people.
It is just plain fun. Jennie is from Pearland, a suburb of Houston. She has one
younger brother, and comes from a close-knit family. "One of the best
things I remember about growing up is that we had lots of pets," Jennie
says. Her menagerie has included countless horses, dogs, iguanas, parakeets,
rabbits, hamsters, ducks, and now, a 13 year-old cat named Miss Kitty. Hardly a
country girl, Jennie started her broadcast career at age 15, as a news anchor
for Alvin Community College's radio station KACC. Her dad would drop her off at
the station every Saturday at 6 a.m., drink coffee, and listen to his daughter
read the news. Jennie was also the editor of her high school newspaper. However,
she never thought she would seriously become a reporter. "I wanted to be an
artist or a fashion designer," she says. "I come from a pretty
creative family, so those were real options in my home." As Jennie would
discover, so was television.
22 (2002 top ten) Leslie Cook KXAN 36 Leslie
Cook is a weeknight anchor for KXAN TV News 36. Her television news career began
in 1992. Before coming to Austin, she worked in Fayetteville, Arkansas at KHBS-TV
and in Jonesboro, Arkansas at KAIT-TV.
In her more than nine years in television
news, she has covered a variety of stories from crime to politics to health.
Leslie's medical reporting won her first place honors in 2000 from the Texas
Associated Press. She covered the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los
Angeles and George W. Bush's Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. in
January 2001.
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=144797
The Overall Voting for 2002 News Babe of the Year
no votes chan newsbabe
1 353 42 Coco Douglas
2 212 7 Katherine Kisiel
3 143 42 Elizabeth Dannheim
4 121 24 Kim Barnes
5 93 42 Sabra Gertsch
6 89 36 Wendy Woolfolk
7 81 36 Kimberly Ball
8 57 24 Ilona Torok
9 51 42 Teresa Rodriguez
10 48 36 Jenni Lee
11 47 7 Laurie Kovach
12 46 36 Julie Shields
13 42 24 Judy Maggio
14 39 42 Cile Spelce
15 38 24 Bianca Balogh
16 29 42 Connie Swinney
17 25 7 Eileen Gonzales
18 19 36 Jen Ohlson
18 19 36 Jenna Cooper
20 18 36 Laura Skirde
21 17 42 Jennie Blankenship
22 16 36 Leslie Cook
23 14 42 Laura Berry
23 14 7 Laura Whitley
25 12 36 Donna Rapado
25 12 24 Melissa Gale
26 7 24 Amy Johnston
27 5 7 Diane Quest
27 5 24 Olga Campos
30 4 24 Pamela McCown
31 3 36 Veronica Obregon
32 2 36 Sally Hernandez
And the All Time Austin News Babe Winner!
Kate (Supple) Kelly formerly of KVUE 24
Kate Kelly anchors Channel 5 Eyewitness News at 4:30 and 5 pm and is a
featured reporter on Channel 5 special segments. While at Channel 5, Kelly has
held a number of anchoring and reporting roles. Kelly began as a reporter/anchor
in January 1984. A few months later, she and reporter Doug Murphy assumed anchor
responsibilities for Channel 5 Eyewitness News at 6:30 and 11 pm on the
weekends. In April 1987, she began co-anchoring Eyewitness News weeknights at 11
pm with Dave McElhatton and from December 1989 to early 1994 she co-anchor of
the 5 and 10 pm newscasts. She then took on the early morning news with Ken
Bastida before returning to evenings in 1998.
In 1984, Kate Kelly was named the outstanding young journalist by the
Association of Professional Journalists. Over the years Kelly has been nominated
several times for local Emmys. In spring of 2002, Kate Kelly won the Radio and
Television News Directors Association Award for Outstanding News Series for
"The Alaskan Refuge: America's Treasure, America's Oil."
Kelly began her broadcast career as a reporter/anchor for KRCR-TV in Redding,
CA., after graduating from Stanford University with a degree in communications
in 1979. While at Stanford, Kelly gained valuable reporting skills at Stanford
radio station KZSU which helped her to land the reporting position at KRCR-TV.
Kelly shot and edited her own news reports and also produced and anchored the 11
PM newscast. Next, Kelly moved to Austin, Tex. in 1980 to work as a reporter
for KVUE-TV. She soon moved into the weekend anchor position while continuing as
a general assignment reporter as well as covering political stories from the
capitol. Two years later, she became the 6 p.m. weeknight co-anchor. While Kelly
served as news anchor, the station won the UPI and AP Best Newscast Award in
Texas for three years in a row.
Kelly has covered a wide variety of stories including the Presidential
elections, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to the Bay
Area, and Pope John Paul II's U.S. tour. Kelly even flew with the Blue Angels
during a Fleet Week appearance.
A Bay Area native, Kelly was born and raised in Marin. She currently lives in
San Francisco with her husband and two sons.