Gillian Key at Kare 11 Sunrise
November 20, 2012
Gillian Key ’07 never thought she would be working in big-market television. Not this soon. And not producing a morning news show.
She’s one of three producers for “KARE 11 Sunrise” in Minneapolis. Key runs the 4:30-5 a.m. segment which she helped launch in June. Her day starts at 11 p.m. and she works right up until airtime tracking breaking news, determining content, writing stories, and updating the show’s website.
“I knew I wanted to be in broadcasting,” Key says when she recalls working on newscasts in the old Howell Hall while a student. “I like to be in-the-know and share information with people.”
She didn’t see herself in front of the camera, however. Key turned an internship at KARE 11 into an entry-level job as overnight assignment editor and, because she was already at the studio, helped out with the Saturday morning news show.
A year on the daytime assignment desk followed. When a position opened on “Sunrise,” Key jumped at the chance. “I put in the extra elbow grease,” says Key. “I’m proud of where I am and what I do.”
“Sunrise” is number one in its market and was recently nominated for an Upper Midwest Emmy in the daytime news category.
“I love it when the show is done,” says Key. “But the next day starts with a blank slate. That’s the news business.”
