Last Monday, April 5, Better Nashville anchor Kacy Hagerty joined Lipscomb’s Society of Professional Journalists for their meeting.
Hagerty graduated from Lipscomb in 2007. After transferring from Tennessee Tech for her sophomore year, Hagerty was able to get an internship with Channel 4 through the help and encouragement of one of her professors, Dr. Jimmy McCollum.
At Channel 4 during her internship, Hagerty would write for the news anchors and help out with whatever else was needed.
She also told the SPJ students that she loves what she does, no matter the stress that may come with it.
“I may not make millions, but I love what I do, and that is what matters most to me,” Hagerty said.
After Hagerty graduated she applied for a job as a producer at WSMV. Because she had interned there and knew the staff, she got the job. She worked as an associate producer for the morning show; which meant that she would have to go in at around 11 at night.
“It was definitely a big transition for me, going from hanging out with my friends until midnight to going into work,” Hagerty said.
After a short stint of doing that, Hagerty was unfortunately let go because of budget cuts. However, soon after that she was offered the producer spot for WSMV’s midday show, Better Nashville.
“As soon as I heard the news I thanked God,” Hagerty said. “It truly was an answered prayer.”
Today Kacy is still working as the producer, but is also hosting the show. The regular anchor, Holly Thompson is on maternity leave.
While the idea of hosting the show caught Hagerty by surprise at first, she took it in stride.
“I had never even thought of hosting,” Hagerty said. “Sometimes it’s still hard to watch myself on camera because I am not used to it.”
Hagerty urged all of the students to use their faith in their work. She tries to influence viewers with her ideas of the Lord during the show.
“I really try and not forget why I am here, and that’s because of God,” Hagerty said. “It sometimes is hard getting the spiritual word out there because of the secular environment that I work in, but there are ways to spread the word.”
You can watch Hagerty use her love for God in this interview with Christian artist Jeremy Camp here.
Hagerty encouraged students several times during the meeting to do what they love, and not to settle for anything less than that.
“Figure out what you want do to do, and do it,” Hagerty said. “Life is too short to settle for something that you don’t want to do; you have to go out and enjoy life for what it is worth.”
For more on Hagerty and the show that she produces, visit Better Nashville’s homepage. There, you can watch some of the interviews that Hagerty has done, and even see her co-anchors pull a prank on her regarding Time Tebow.