I’m a Midwest Regional Emmy award-winning producer and photojournalist with over two decades of experience bringing memorable content to television and online audiences in multiple markets with the humblest of beginnings in Northwest Arkansas.
Once accepted to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with Jim Henson-inspired dreams of becoming a puppeteer and film director for PBS shows like Sesame Street, I was forbidden to keep a financial aid appointment and made the somewhat desperate move to join the Army as soon as I graduated.
9 months later, flat feet ejected me back out into the civilian world with a new-found friend and former “battle buddy” from Northwest Arkansas, and I began adult life tossing and saucing Eureka pizzas.
It was at Eureka Pizza that I formed a friendship with a delivery driver whose mother worked in sales at the local ABC affiliate. My enthusiasm for television and two years studying multimedia production in high school earned me an interview with the news director at the time, and with that, I began a now decades-long exploration of multimedia storytelling through broadcast television and the internet.
After raising the bar for visual storytelling in the Fayetteville/Fort Smith market (and doing some overnights as an early morning weekend DJ for a local radio station), I followed my curiosity and passions to positions as a Senior Writer, leading a small team to implement and produce daily topical and future special promotional campaigns for television and radio.
Desiring experience with online content management and creation, I transitioned into a web content producer role, where I gained a huge appreciation for emerging platforms and multimedia technology that are constantly opening up new and exciting ways to bring emersive experiences to more diverse audiences.
After taking the time to really hone my lighting and solo storytelling skills, I took some time away from television to detox from news altogether, and I’ve spent most of the pandemic working remotely to support the State of Wisconsin’s Covid-19 Response and Recovery Team with contact tracing and other communications-oriented health information outreach.
As the health emergency ends and efforts wind down, I’m looking for unique opportunities that challenge me to sweeten my skill set and stoke my passions for play, creative imagination, and telling meaningful, diverse stories.
“Do good stuff.”
Jim Henson
Rebecca Cantrell 