Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Celeste Reimherr Buckert.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I’ve always been a writer at my core, and I’ve always loved sharing stories. When I started college at Texas A&M-San Antonio, I knew I wanted to do something that would allow me to share the stories of the city and community I’m so proud to be from. I was hooked when I became involved in the student media program. Local stations picked up one of my stories; from there, my young career spiraled into something I never thought it could become. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to intern with KSAT 12’s lifestyle show, SA Live, and I will be one of their news interns starting in January. When I graduate, I’d like to become an on-air reporter. Everything has happened so quickly, but I’m grateful to my mentors at school, KSAT, and my family for being so welcoming and encouraging me to go big despite my age or experience.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been some challenges, but struggling through them pays off. Anytime you’re putting yourself out for the public to see and judge, it can be scary. Throw in the learning curve of live shots, quick deadlines, and pressure to tell the story correctly and sensitively, and it’s a recipe for nerves — and you’re bound to mess up. But I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some of the best at A&M-SA, KSAT, and Univision 41. In addition to the incredible feedback that makes me better every day, they’ve all stressed the importance of embracing the struggle and moving forward because that’s the only way you learn.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m currently still a student at A&M-San Antonio, majoring in Communications-journalism. I just finished an internship with KSAT’s lifestyle show, SA Live, and I’m excited to be their news intern in January! I’ll graduate in May 2023 and want to work my way up to being an on-air reporter. My favorite kinds of stories are the ones about community. My favorite (and most heartbreaking) story I’ve ever done was about how the south San Antonio community rallied together to mourn and honor the 53 migrants who lost their lives on Quintana Road this past summer. Even in the tragically sad stories, I love finding the humanity people inherently have that moves them to support each other. Stories of immigration are ones I hold very close, and to see something so big and so painful shake my city the way that it did was difficult. But the people I got to talk to about their hope and love gave me hope, and I wanted to share that with others through these people’s stories.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The broadcast industry is already changing drastically and quickly, and I expect that change to continue for the next decade. It’s a field that is constantly growing and innovating. The main thing we see is how many people are switching from their TVs to streaming and on-demand. Many people even get their news solely from social media platforms. It’s easy to write that off, decide it’s wrong, and try to convince people to “put in the effort” and watch their local news station. I do firmly believe, however, that it’s imperative to meet people where they are. As newspeople, we are a service to our communities by holding powerful people accountable, documenting history, and telling stories in a way that is accessible and understandable for everyone. As such, we need to meet people where they are. The news industry will be tapping into social media much more these next few years and figuring out how to use it as a tool, not a hindrance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lilycelesterb.wixsite.com/lcrb
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyceleste210/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilyceleste210
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOi5QQrCUmeu3QJ1A4cBHog
Image Credits
(For the picture of me talking to young girl with family on bench): Miranda Rodriguez
