Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Crea.
Jackie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started as an intern, after I graduated from UCSD, at NBC7 ten years ago. Followed the reporters and editors around and begged them to shoot standups for and teach me how to edit. I finally got a reel together with the help of basically that entire newsroom, including my now news director taking a moment to review it and critique it for me. I sent it to a bunch of job openings and landed in El Paso, TX and lived with my grandma during my first job! Spent two years there and then landed a job in Houston. After three years there, got a job in Denver. Two years there and finally got back to sunny San Diego, where I’ve been for 3 years.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. You sacrifice a lot. You miss plenty of family and friend holidays, birthdays, milestones. You start out making NO MONEY, working pretty much every holiday imaginable and time off is rare. The first job I had, I was a one-man band or mmj and would be sent out to stories alone, at night in places I wasn’t familiar with. I look back and realize how unsafe that was. At the time you say yes because you’re a rookie trying to cut your teeth. The job is very physical and exhausting, stressful. You mostly eat your meal in your lap on your way to breaking news or a story, basically whenever you can find a moment. The hours are tough at times. A night shift is 2:30p-11p roughly, so you miss dinner with your family or fun things with people after work. I spent one year working the early morning shift in Houston as a reporter, where my alarm clock went off at 2:30 am. That was grueling work in a big town.
Most recently, in the last few years, the public’s opinion of the media was untrustworthy and at times almost hated. That created some very difficult encounters with people. Been called a vulture and other names. There were plenty of times where you felt unsafe.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a general assignment reporter, fill-in anchor at NBC San Diego. I don’t specialize in a particular beat or topic. I’m most proud of the work I’ve dedicated a decade of my life to, to come full circle and end up at my dream station, living in the best city in the world! I think that I’m relatable and approachable in the field and can connect with people rather quickly. Every journalist brings their own experience, background, and unique perspective to the job.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Recently became a mom and that has changed how I approach my stories and frame my work every day. One of the more fun highlights during my time in SD is the chance to be on the Voice for a brief segment to introduce a local contestant.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiecrea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jackie%20crea%20nbc%207
