Today we’d like to introduce you to Intisar Faulkner.
Hi Intisar, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m currently an anchor/reporter for WIS News 10 in Columbia, South Carolina. I was born in Fort Worth, TX, but my family moved to St. Louis when I was 3 years old. I spent the rest of my childhood in North County and was a student in the Hazelwood School District.
I then attended Missouri State University, where I obtained degrees in Broadcast Journalism & Political Science, as well as a Masters in Communications. News has always been a passion of mine. Even as a young girl, I remember watching the “Today Show” before school in the morning. I’d find anchors to mimic and enjoyed watching special reports like “60 Minutes” with my dad.
After undergrad, I got my start in news on the radio as an anchor for KTTS News in Springfield, MO. During my time there, I won two Missouri Broadcasters Association Awards for “Best News Series” and “Breaking News Weather Coverage.” In 2019, I joined the team at WTOK-TV in Meridian, MS as the anchor and executive producer for the station’s morning show, “Good Morning Meridian.” Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I also became the producer and host of the station’s Sunday talk show “On The Record.”
Dancing is one of my passions. After competing for in-studio competitions for 18 years, I became a member of the MSU Sugar Bears Dance Team in college. The team competed annually at The UDA National Championships in Orlando, FL, placing in the top 10 of their division every year. While at WTOK, I also won first place at the city’s annual “Dancing Like The Stars” competition, which raises money for domestic violence abuse victims.
Beyond my broadcasting achievements, I am a co-founder of the ELEVATE Women’s Empowerment Brunch, a networking event geared towards young female professionals. I also am a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
This dream has NOT been easy! I remember sitting in my first Broadcast Performance class hearing my professor say “So you want to be on TV? Well, are you ready to start your career in a small unfamiliar town?
Make less than 30K? And chances are you’ll probably have to do more jobs than what you were hired for?” I took a second to pause—but ultimately, the challenge didn’t scare me. I knew this is what I wanted to do.
Throughout my career journey so far, you name it, I’ve faced it. Severe weather scares, racism, management problems, being underpaid, being looked over for a position, ALL OF IT. But I enjoy being a storyteller and being a voice for my community. That trumps all the tough times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
First and foremost, I’m a journalist. Growing up, I loved to write! I also love to talk… so put the two together and I basically found my dream job! I really like telling community-based stories, cultural features, and history pieces as well. I started as an anchor/reporter at WIS-TV in July 2021, I serve as the breaking news anchor for the station’s morning show “Sunrise” and also anchor the noon show several days a week.
Most not only know me for my creative storytelling, but also for my style. Once I became an anchor, I decided to rock my naturally curly hair. Over the years that has set me apart. As I did when I was a little girl, I switch up my hairstyles often, and viewers always send me feedback on how much they love my styles. I want to help change the narrative of what an anchor is “supposed” to look like. I want the industry to shift its thinking on what “professional” looks like.
Some of my proudest moments thus far in my career have been messages or feedback from parents who say their daughter watches me and feel beautiful or feels that one day they too could be where I am. That’s important to me, to uplift the next generation and let them know that they too can achieve whatever they set their minds to no matter how they look.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The biggest risk is not taking any risk at all. And the broadcast industry is FULL OF RISKS!! So I’m a woman who takes the leap first and asks questions later. I remember when I first got a radio reporter job in Springfield, MO.
I was in grad school at the time but wanted to still practice my reporting skills and the local TV station didn’t have any part-time position that would work with my schedule. The radio station was a country music station, and if I accepted, I would become not only the first but the ONLY Black employee at the station. Instead of letting the fear of un-comfortability stand in my way, I accepted the job and ended up winning awards while at the station.
This attitude became a pattern. My next gig in Meridian, MS was a risk. I knew no one in the state, heck I never even visited before I moved, but I stayed two years and made my mark not only at the station but on the community. I encourage risks! Do things that scare you!
Contact Info:
- Email: intisarfaulkner@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intisaronair
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntisarOnAir
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/intisaronair
Image Credits
Trenton Steele
