Jessica Curtis is a radio legend. Well, legend may be a strong word, but she is a pretty big deal. People know her. She started her radio career with WABC in New York before eventually moving on to Fox News Radio working with their many affiliates, where she is to this day, and where we crossed paths while I was working in Milwaukee. Oh, and her husband John and I were basically separated at birth.
Keith: What made you choose broadcasting as a career?
Jessica: Quite seriously, I went into college undecided… a typical teenager… stuck between education, law enforcement and broadcasting… three very different directions… until one day, someone came up to me (one of my parent’s friends – and I can’t for the life of me remember whom it was) but they said after a conversation with me “Hey, you’d be great on TV on air…” and BAM. Major declared! The rest I fell into along the way, with a lot of perseverance and persistence!
Keith: After being behind the scenes for a while, could you ever see yourself doing anything on the air?
Jessica: I would love to be on air, and yes, that is one of my goals. Working on it. I’ve dabbled with on air stuff in college and at my previous job and loved every minute of it!
Keith: It seems like over the past year you’ve done a ton of traveling. A trip to Africa with President Bush, both conventions, the inauguration. What was your favorite?
Jessica: I have done a lot of traveling… It’s been great. For scenery I’d have to say it was my first international “Pool” trip to Rostock, Germany. What a beautiful country Germany is.
For “learning experience” I’d have to say Africa… my partner Kirstin and I flew on the press charter, which doesn’t normally happen. We had to carry hundreds of pounds of gear with us, and literally, we’d hit the ground and run down the stairs and across the tarmac to the busses, and once we’d get to the site, we’d run to the workspace, and immediately start setting up because just behind us running in is all the White House Press Corps… and if you don’t have your gear set up by the time they are ready to go, they aren’t happy. Same deal with leaving, speedy breakdown, and we’d run back to the planes with all the gear… headed to the next stop!
Don’t get me wrong, all of my trips have been great and really amazing experiences… Indonesia, Singapore, Africa, Germany… I even spent a few hours in the airport in Tokyo!
Keith: Have there ever been any “Wow. I can’t believe I’m traveling with the President” moments?
Jessica: I had one of those moments when I was sitting in a hallway sheltered from all windows while working in Bogor, Indonesia. We were working in the hotel directly across the street from the Presidential Palace, and had a car bomb scare come in. We were ordered away from the windows, and into a dark hallway to sit and wait for the all clear. At that point, at 26 years old I certainly did have the “Wow… I can’t believe I’m traveling with the President”.
Keith: Even though your about as enthusiastic a runner as I am, you decided to run a half marathon at the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. You’re raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but is this something you’re doing to raise money for a good cause or is it something you’ve always wanted to try? Has Todd Starnes given you any training tips?
Jessica: I’d say I’m doing this ½ marathon for both reasons… A) It’s for a great cause, and really; cancer(s) of all kinds effect so many people. It’s tragic. B) I am a very active person, though NOT at all a runner, so this is a huge challenge for me, and I’m really excited to take it on! Todd has definitely given me some pointers. I’m actually running a 5K on Sunday, and I’ve coaxed Todd into running it with me!
