Owasso Resident Craig Day Discusses Long News Career
By BLAKE AUSTYN
Contributing Writer
Sixteen-year Owasso resident and News on 6 Anchor Craig Day’s broadcasting days began in his teens when he worked as a radio disc jockey. Thirty years later, Day, a native of Seminole, Oklahoma, remains in the industry, his past 15 years with .
Day also volunteers as a narrator for the Oklahoma Library for the Blind.
What influenced your decision to pursue a career in broadcast journalism?
I grew up in a household that always seemed to have the news on, so exposure to coverage of news and being informed about current events started at a young age.
What does a day at work look like for you?
When I get to work each day, I immediately begin taking a look at what we’re covering and searching to find stories I think may be interesting for viewers. At 2 p.m., we have an editorial meeting where reporters, photographers, managers, and anchors provide story ideas for managers and producers to consider for inclusion in the newscast. From there, I am typically involved in recording promos for the newscasts, recording radio newscasts, and reviewing news copy. I often work with reporters on scripts and provide feedback to reporters and photojournalists.
However, when there’s breaking news, you can throw that all out the window! I may be at our breaking news desk, in front of the camera for hours, doing cut-ins on air, or going live on our webpage or social media to provide the most current information to viewers.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
First, I can think of no other job where I’ve had the chance to meet so many people with such varied backgrounds.
I’m a “people-person.” Being in this profession gives me the opportunity to meet so many interesting people whom I would otherwise never have the chance to meet.
Second, I love to write and the creative process of writing and starting with an idea for a story at the beginning of the day and then making it happen (with the help of great photojournalists!).
Have you always lived in Oklahoma and what has caused you to remain in the state?
I have lived in Oklahoma my entire life, except for five years when I worked in Shreveport, Louisiana.
My roots are in Oklahoma and run deep here. Family is very important to me, and my family is here. My family homesteaded to western Oklahoma and lived in sod houses. I also admire the characteristics and values that Oklahomans have: they are hard working, humble and resilient.
What has caused you to volunteer as a narrator for the Oklahoma Library for the Blind for the past 15 years?
I have had several family members who have lost their vision. With my experience in radio and television, I thought it would be a good fit to help in this way. Every person has at least one skill that could, in the right situation, be used to make a positive difference–this is my way of trying to do that.
Updated 12-10-2017
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