UST Communication Alumna Anchors East Texas Fox News
 By the time she learned to talk, Crystal Kobza knew she wanted to report the news on television. Only three years after graduating with a degree in communication from the University of St. Thomas, Kobza has reached her lifelong goal.
Kobza can now be seen anchoring the local news for the Tyler, Texas-based Fox News affiliate whose various newscasts cover much of East Texas, Waco, Killeen, Temple, Bryan, College Station, Shreveport, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas.
And she loves every minute of it. “I really don’t feel like I go to work every day because I love what I do so much,” she said. “If you love to talk to people, if you love to tell stories, if you love to find out what matters most to people, then as a news reporter or an anchor, you will love what you do.”
She attributes much of her success to education she received at UST and the experience she gained through broadcast internships. While at UST, Kobza worked with Dr. Robin Williamson, professor and chair of communication, to secure an internship at Fox 26 and NBC Channel 2 KPRC. After graduating in December of 2005, Kobza worked as a reporter for the Tyler NBC affiliate for two years until she was asked to anchor the news on the new Fox station.
“If I had not gone to the University of St. Thomas, I would not be where I am today,” Kobza said. “The communication classes that prepared me for the industry, the professors who cared and gave you individual attention and the real-world experience from internships – all of those factors really made me push myself after graduation.”
John Butler, adjunct professor of communication was Kobza’s broadcast professor at UST. Butler also serves as newscast director for Fox News 26 KRIV. “Crystal took advantage of UST’s strengths by working closely with the Communication Department faculty to focus on classes that prepared her for a career in broadcast journalism,” he said. “The University core curriculum gave her the foundation she needed to think critically, write well and clearly communicate her ideas. Crystal benefited from our close relationship with local broadcasters and was able to participate in the internship program which helped her move from the classroom to the workplace.”
To see Kobza in action, visit Fox News East Texas www.fox51.com or
Waco, Kileen and Temple Fox 44 KWKT www.kwkt.com or
Fox 33 Shreveport Ark-La-Tex www.kmsstv.com |
