Conversations with Erica Francis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Francis.

Hi Erica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ah, what is my story? It’s always a tough question for me to answer. I hate talking about myself, however, I love inspiring others to follow their dreams, and that is what I chose to do and that is my story. It all started when I was in high school. I grew up performing, I loved the stage. Acting, singing, dancing, you name it… if a stage light was shining bright, so was my smile.

I noticed there was a high school course called ‘West Ottawa Broadcasting News,’ or WOBN. I jumped at the opportunity. If there was a chance that I could be on camera, reading the announcements, you better believe I’d say yes. Turns out, the class was so much more than I’d ever imagined. It was there that I found a love for being behind the scenes as well. This is where I learned that I love to tell stories. I loved giving a voice to the voiceless and even more importantly, I loved creative writing.

I stuck with that course for the next couple of years and ended up getting accepted to Central Michigan University’s Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts Program, one of the best broadcasting programs in the country. There, I gained first-hand experience with our live newscast that aired every day at 5:00 p.m. I also made sure to overbook my schedule with five internships, a part-time job, and sports reporting for CMU Athletics.

I wanted to make sure I was the best and most, prepared for the real world. That I was. My senior year, I got a call from the news director at Fox 17 News in Grand Rapids, MI. He wanted to interview me. ME!? This was market 37-something, which was unheard of for a college graduate. He ended up hiring me. He saw my potential and for that, I am so grateful.

A year or so later, he promoted me to a new position. The 4:00 a.m-6:00 and 11:00 a.m morning co-anchor. That is where I truly started gaining the experience behind the anchor desk that I would need one day to reach my full potential and fulfill my goals.

I’m awful with timelines and my memory does not serve me well, but I believe I did that for three years. Then, it was off to Nashville. I had a lot of choices as to where I wanted to move next, lucky me. But how could I NOT choose Nashville? It was the IT city and I was offered a sweet Monday through Friday gig anchoring the 4 p.m. and reporting during the day, which I so incredibly loved and still do to this day.

Now, here I am, almost three years later. Time flies when you’re living your dream. Here, I focus on growth that’s happening in and around Music City, economics, and real estate. I adore my co-anchor, Alex Denis, and all of my co-workers for that matter. News 2 is now my family and I couldn’t be happier.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A smooth road in news? There is absolutely no such thing. This is a very intense career path. It’s not for the faint of heart. It will break you if you are weak or not ready. You’re on camera, live, every single day, meaning, there are hundreds of things that could go wrong, there are thousands of ways to mess up… and trust me, you’ll mess up and there are a million ways to get down on yourself and give up when things don’t go your way, but in this industry, you have to keep pushing.

You have to find it within yourself to learn from your mistakes, grow from them, and do better the next time. Nobody is going to hold your hand. This career is fast-paced, loud, stressful, and not glamourous by any means. It got worse with COVID. I feel as though every job did. At the height of the pandemic, I came to work every day, unsure of the future. It was scary. My day was, and often is, filled with sad news, live press conferences, and statistics that seemed to never end.

For me, my biggest struggle has always been my confidence. I never understood why I kept getting opportunities others were not. I didn’t feel good enough, but everyone else said I was. Confidence in this industry is key. I’m still learning to find it. Some days are better than others. You have to shake off the bad news and keep a positive mindset and remind yourself that you are making a difference.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the 4:00 p.m. anchor at News 2 in Nashville. I get into work at 9:00 a.m. every day and pitch a story on our conference call. I make calls, conduct interviews, write two versions of my story, including my web article, then I get ready to go on-air to anchor the 4:00 p.m. newscast for an hour with my co-anchor.

I do this all within a day. Crazy, right?! I’d like to think I’m known for my openness and fun personality. I really hope I connect with the viewers, they’re so important. As for what I’m the proudest of, it’s myself. For sticking with this career when it was freaking tough and I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. I’m proud that at 29 I’m living my dream in the most amazing city. Lastly, what I think sets me apart is my creative writing.

I feel as though I have a keen ability to find a character and turn a mundane story into something that interests viewers. Not all stories are sexy, but in my field, you’ve got to try to find a way. That’s the fun part. How do I set my story apart from others I feel as though I’m good with that and that’s what sets ME apart?

What do you think about happiness?
The Lord has provided me with everything I have, including my friends and my family, including my incredible mother. Relationships make me happy.

The people that I’ve met on this crazy journey we call life make me happy. The people that make me laugh, make me better and make me think. I am happiest when I am listening to live music with my best friends reminiscing on good memories. I think having relationships and communication with others is so very important for our mental health.

I am grateful to have met some of my best friends in Nashville who truly will always make me smile.

Contact Info:

• Email: efrancis@wkrn.com
• Website: Wkrn.com
• Instagram: @ericaonair
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricaOnAir/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaOnAir

Image Credits
Giving Machines Nashville