Influential Woman · Journalism

Kathryn Mobley

Freelance Journalist, Freelance

Beavercreek, OH

Her Story

About Kathryn

I'm a reporter, producer, and backup host for an NPR affiliate station in Southwest Ohio, where I've been for nearly three years. My typical day involves making phone calls to story contacts, working online via email, reaching out to established and future sources, following up on different issues to craft stories, securing interviews to capture multiple voices, writing up stories, submitting them to my news director for editing, and then recording and producing the audio myself. Sometimes I go out into the field covering events like city council meetings, groundbreakings, or conducting in-person interviews. I can start my morning with one focus, and then something happens, gears shift, and I have to quickly pivot to another focus. I'm typically working on 2 to 3 stories at different stages, depending on whether it's a fast turnaround or requires waiting for leadership to reply. Before this role, I worked for about 10 years at an NPR affiliate station in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Prior to that, I was a freelancer for 4 years doing media reporting, producing, and PR work. I also worked for a hospital doing their PR and communications for about 2 years, and before that worked for a production company where we created commercials for Fortune 500 corporations. I moved to Ohio to help take care of my father who was becoming chronically ill, and the job came after that.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kathryn

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is that regardless of the season of my profession or the season of my life, I have to identify my truth and identify my values. I have to identify those things, and then as I'm going through professional experiences, I have to decide whether or not I'm going to bend on those. It's about knowing what matters to me and staying committed to those principles even as circumstances change throughout my career.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My advice to young women entering journalism is to know who they are, because a lot of people will try to tell you who you are. Be committed to being as accurate as you can in that moment. There are times when you cover a story and disseminate information, and then later you find out that information has shifted. As long as you can point to at least two sources who confirmed the information you originally gave, you did your job. You cannot control what happens in the back room after your story has already aired. Slow down and breathe, even though your boss is going to say this is deadline, this is deadline. Unless your story literally is going to stop a global virus from spreading, breathe. It's more important to tell less but to tell it accurately than to try to tell a whole lot and have mistakes in it.

03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

My values, especially in terms of my professionalism as a journalist, center on integrating multiple perspectives with every story. It's important to hear multiple perspectives, even if you don't agree with them. It's not about agreeing with them, it's about being open to what people are feeling and saying. It's not for me to judge this is right, this is wrong. I try to be balanced and ethical. Sometimes journalists will talk about being fair, but there is no such thing as being fair. What I can bring to the table is accuracy - accuracy of information. I make sure my stories are going to accurately reflect the names of the people involved, the issues of the story, whatever the different perspectives are, and give them a platform to have their voice heard. I'm not putting the words in your mouth, you're saying it. I look at people as humans - somebody's mother, father, husband, wife, child, granddaughter, grandfather. I choose to treat people with respect. It's not about me agreeing with you, it's about me respecting you as a human, and I value and appreciate you trusting me to share your story with me. I carry these values everywhere, whether I'm on duty or off duty, whether I'm at work or at the grocery store. I work to show respect to anyone, regardless of who you are.

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