Keitha Nelson Williams Brings You the News!

Keitha Nelson Williams was born in Jamaica, West Indies but raised in New York City. Having been an athlete all her life she thought that she would make a career of track and field. However, once she got to college she realized that wasn’t going to work out for her, so after taking a couple of broadcasting classes and liking it she decided to pursue a mass communication degree.
Upon graduation from Nicholls State University she returned home to a job at a local paper, but she quickly realized that print journalism wasn’t for her. She then went back to the south for a job with a local t.v. station. She’s worked for several stations, but is now a reporter for WAFB Channel 9 in Baton Rouge, LA.
She says the most interesting and challenging story she’s ever covered was Hurricane Katrina. She moved to Biloxi one week before the hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast region. She recalls living at the TV station with the crew and their families and pets without any running water. “It was very trying,” she said. “Most of the time the stories are removed from me…but this time I was living it.”
The most rewarding part of her job is when people are helped because of a story she’s done. For instance if there was a fire and a family loses everything, she covers the story, and then later someone calls in to the station to offer the family clothing or food.
Keitha’s plans for the future include becoming a national correspondent and starting a family. Recently married, she says she’s not rushing either goal. She’s a go with the flow kind of person and when it happens it happens.
When asked if she had any advice for you Sistagirlz out there who may be thinking of following in her footsteps she replied, “Intern! Intern! Intern!” It’s important to figure out if this is really what you want to do. People think it’s fun because you’re on TV, but being a reporter is very hard work. You have to enjoy it.

as told to Miss Rikki

Nominate someone you know for the “You Go Girl” of the Week!!