KCCI reporter Eric Hanson told the J173 Broadcasting Reporting class he strives to find interesting characters through whom he can tell his stories. Some ideas arrive by e-mail or telephone calls, while others come from experience.
An Iowa farm boy, Hanson attended Roland-Story High School and Wartburg College. Following TV internships in Minneapolis and Waterloo, Hanson told the class his first full-time job in Eau Claire involved a little bit of everything, including Teleprompter operation. He broadened that experience at KWWL, Waterloo, then relocated to KCCI 13 years ago.
Hanson credits teamwork with TV8’s photographers for his professional success. KCCI was recently named Small Market “Station of the Year” by the National Press Photographers Assoc.
The winner of two national Edward R. Murrow and two Emmy awards, Hanson says he tries to improve his skills by critically evaluating the stories of award-winning reporters in larger markets and the networks.