b'findingfocusJULIE AMATOS CLEAR DIRECTION a chance thought about doing, it just felt like the most natural thing exposure to SOUs video production facilities led Julieto me, she said. As an SOU student, she was able to intern at KOBI-TV, Channel 5 in Medford. That gave me really great Amato 95 to a successful and fulfilling careerhands-on experience, she said. Ive been in the news field ever since, and I still love it.in TV news. Although she had planned to enterAmato also credits SOU with helping her gain the confidence SOU as a theater major, she switched to videoneeded in her fast-paced leadership role. I came to SOU with pretty low expectations of myself, and I left with self esteem and production in the Communication Programan understanding of what I was capable of, she said. All of my instructors were excellent, and I was treated like an adult, she before classes ever started. I went down to seesaid. As somebody who was once really shy, I grew to have zero a friend (in the residence halls), and when I sawfear of walking into anybodys office or classroom and asking questions.the TV production studio, I thought, oh, what isKOBI offered Amato a full-time job right after college. When she joined KPTV in Portland a year later, she was their this? I switched on a whim. Thats the best way. first full-time, female newscast director. That was in 1996, and it was all guys. They did not want a director who was a Amato is a Senior Technical Director at KPTV Fox-12woman and who was young, she said. Fortunately, Amato Oregon, one of the leading news stations in Portland. Hersaid the atmosphere changed fairly quickly and people were work includes directing Good Day Oregon, where she managesrespectful. These days there are as many, if not more, women. the technical aspects of the live show such as graphics, audio,Its definitely a more level playing field.video, and transitions. While the daily business of jugglingAmato thoroughly enjoys her work and loves being involved various parts of a show can be challenging enough, Amatoin the news industry, but ongoing threats to press freedom are thrives on fast-paced breaking news stories like the Oregonconcerning. Its a scary time to be in journalism, but its also wildfires, the Covid-19 pandemic, and presidential elections.an exciting time to fight for freedom of the press and stand up For me, its the thrill of the live element. Thats where myfor truth, she said. Thats how you make change.skill set gets tested the most and where I shine as a director,When she reflects on her nearly 30 years at KPTV, Amato she said.said she thinks frequently of SOU and how it led her to this Video production turned out to be the perfect fit for Amato,moment. I found a sense of happiness in myself at SOU that and the education and experience she received at SOUI hadnt ever had before, she said. My job has given me that allowed her to step directly into a full-time news productionsame sense of happiness. Its more important to do what you job after graduation. When I first started directing in thelove, and the rest of it can work itself out. My time at SOU TV studio on campus, which was something Id never evenhelped me learn that.THE RAIDER|FALL 202511'