Crawford Alumni Center
Tech Took Us There
麻豆果冻传媒 communication alumna is new morning anchor for KSLA News
KSLA News in Shreveport, Louisiana, recently announced their newest morning anchor. Biskie Duncan, a 2014 communication graduate of 麻豆果冻传媒, says the new role combines her favorite parts of working in media.
鈥淭he most rewarding aspect is being able to say that you helped someone tell their story,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is the best feeling in the world. Whether it鈥檚 a kid who started his own lemonade stand to fundraise for his classroom or a new business bringing something to the area that鈥檚 never been done before, you see people who are passionate about what they are doing. There are so many negative things in the world, but I think it鈥檚 better to shine a light on incredible people.鈥�
Duncan didn鈥檛 set out to become a news anchor. She worked for Zimmer Broadcasting in Cookeville for two years during college and says it鈥檚 where she was first introduced to the magic of radio.
Duncan and her husband, Josh, moved to Louisiana in 2014 when Josh was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, and Duncan landed a job with The River 95.7 in Shreveport. She worked at The River for nine years, including a few years as director where she was responsible for the station鈥檚 identity, programming and playlist.
Although Duncan had never worked in television, one day she received a call asking if she鈥檇 be interested in hosting a lifestyle show.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to leave radio,鈥� Duncan said. 鈥淚 remember thinking, 鈥業 have no tv experience. I鈥檝e never done anything with tv. I love what I do now.鈥� But you reach a moment in your career when you know it鈥檚 time for a change.鈥�
Duncan had hosted the lifestyle show Loving Living Local for a year and a half when she learned that the morning anchor position at KSLA was open.
鈥淚 went in for the interview and here we are,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t just goes to show that you never know what can happen.鈥�
While Duncan says she never intended to pursue a career in television, one of her communication classes at Tech might have hinted at something different.
鈥淢y sophomore year, Karen Lykins decided to teach a broadcasting class,鈥� Duncan said. 鈥淪he took us to the television studio in the basement of the library and showed us what it would be like to produce a newscast. It was a really cool class 鈥� really intriguing 鈥� but I thought, 鈥業鈥檓 never going to do anything with tv. I鈥檓 never going to use this skill.鈥� It was foreshadowing.鈥�
In addition to Lykins鈥� broadcast class, Duncan says newswriting and public speaking classes with Tech professors Russ Witcher, Brenda Wilson and Graham Cash prepared her for a career in media.
鈥淚 remember taking intro to mass communications with Dr. Witcher and falling in love with the class,鈥� Duncan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been ten years and I still have my notebook. I learned so much about the creation of radio and tv and broadcast and how it鈥檚 changed over time. Dr. Witcher was one of the most amazing professors, and he could make you learn something in such an engaging way that you didn鈥檛 become overwhelmed with information. The professors in the communication department instilled in me a love of what journalism really is.鈥�
Duncan鈥檚 communication major focused on print journalism, but while it may seem like she鈥檚 not using her degree directly in her new role, she says the opposite is true.
鈥淚 may not work for a newspaper, but I still need newswriting skills,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou need to be able to accurately convey information, and you need to be able to communicate in a way to draw your reader or listener in. I learned so many skills from my communication classes, and you can really apply those skills anywhere.鈥�
Duncan encourages students to take as many writing and public speaking classes as they can.
鈥淵ou will be pleasantly surprised at how often you use those classes in your career,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to challenge yourself. Try something new. Take a risk. Stretch your brain. If it鈥檚 hard, it鈥檚 good 鈥� it means you鈥檙e learning and you鈥檙e bettering yourself along the way.鈥�
