By David Capobianco
Staff Writer
FiOS1 morning news anchor Christine Persichette spoke in the JOU 4 Beat Reporting class about her career as a television journalist, including her current position as a morning news anchor for FiOS1 News on Thursday, Feb. 17. Persichette offered her advice to the class of young, aspiring journalists. “It’s so important to love what you do,” she said.
Persichette has been the morning anchor at FiOS1 News since 2015. “I never thought being an anchor was what I wanted to do,” she said, but she loves what she does now. And that love has given Persichette opportunities to do things like have a sit-down interview with Hillary Clinton, and attend several of Donald Trump’s press conferences.
Throughout her career, she hasn’t stopped working hard. In her current position, she goes to work in the early morning, and gets out of work at 10 a.m. every day. This allows her to spend time with her three young children, two of whom are in kindergarten.
Persichette’s first position at FiOS1 was hosting a show called “Heroes on Our Island,” about people doing good things in the community. She said it was “great” to do that show. “You want to tell people good things that are happening,” she said. “That’s why you get into this business.” She showed clips from “Heroes on Our Island” to the journalism students.
But of course, she reminded them, not everything in journalism is a positive story. “There are some uncomfortable things,” she said.
You can’t let it affect you, but it does.” However, that’s not always bad. She explained that showing feelings towards the person you’re interviewing shows a more human side, and can actually get them to open up more Persichette advised the students that finding the “little nuggets” is the key to making boring stories interesting. “You can make any story interesting,” she said. “There are no boring stories, only boring reporters.”
She also emphasized the need for journalists to research and find contacts, as gaining certain contacts can lead to gaining other connections.
Persichette said journalists need to “know their story,” because people will ask questions, and the ability to “think on your feet” is important. Persichette spoke about the importance of internships in college, saying that they are “the best thing you can do” to gain skills and experience.
Persichette grew up in Queens, earned her bachelor’s degree in communications at SUNY Albany, and her master’s degree in broadcast journalism at NYIT. Following her graduation, she began her first job as a TV news reporter and anchor in the small town of Elmira, New York. This is where Persichette’s work ethic shined. Since it was a small television market, she was what she described as a “one-man band.” She reported, researched, shot, and edited her stories all by herself. “Knowing how to do everything is a requirement these days,” she said.
Persichette advanced at the Elmira station, eventually becoming the executive producer. She moved on to work at Fox as a TV news reporter from 2003 through 2013. Shortly after, she obtained her first position at FiOS1.
Next fall, Persichette’s work will extend beyond the reporting world, and into the classroom. She will be teaching the JOU 5 class, “Writing for Electonic Media” at LIU Post.
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