by Jennifer Lias
Stephanie Corley Huckabee is not your typical broadcast journalism graduate. You won’t find her behind an anchor desk, on the streets interviewing, reporting the local weather, or talking with football coaches at halftime.
You will still find her in front of a rolling camera. Last April, Huckabee launched PowerFit, a comprehensive health and fitness program which advocates healthy living and a joyful life. Her program consists of five DVDs containing workouts targeting key muscle groups and a 14-day meal plan guide. Huckabee is not only created and developed the program, she also serves as its spokeswoman and fitness specialist.
“I absolutely love hearing from women who are figuring out that they have to take care of themselves in order to take care of others,” Huckabee says. In addition to the DVD set, Huckabee also manages a Web site where she blogs daily fitness tips, inspirations, personal stories and PowerFit news.
Dr. Andrea Tanner, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Huckabee’s friend, thinks PowerFit is a good example of how to use the skills learned in college in a unique way. “I think what’s neat is that she has been able to translate the communication skills she learned here into something she loves.”
Raised in Aiken, Huckabee began her studies in broadcast journalism in 1990. “All I knew about broadcasting as a profession was that Joan Lunden and Katie Couric seemed to have exciting jobs, so I decided that’s what I wanted to do. Of course, I had no idea how hard people have to work to get to that level!” Huckabee said.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree she decided to diversify her talents by earning a Master of Arts in Teaching. She then took a job at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C. where she was an English and mass media teacher and ran the school’s daily news broadcasts.
Huckabee was also expanding her fitness knowledge and skills. In 1996 she became certified by The Firm, a local fitness studio that has earned national fame by selling more 10 million copies of its DVD collection of workouts. She received national certification in group fitness, personal training and Internet training through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She began teaching fitness classes at The Firm studio in Columbia, S.C.
She was soon offered the opportunity to lead five fitness videos and appear in many others. This led to a career hosting infomercials and selling products for The Firm on QVC.
“I got my first chance at hosting an infomercial in 2002, and it was my training from the J-school that absolutely landed me that opportunity. I had to read from a piece of paper, but at the same time walk from one point to another and try to glance at the camera as much as possible. It all came so naturally to me as part of my experience at USC where I learned to project confidence in front of the camera.”
Now, Huckabee is a success story with the launch of PowerFit. “The combination of a broadcast journalism degree with a Master’s degree in teaching truly prepared me for what I’m doing now. Whether I’m on a large set, shooting outside or even working on a green screen, I believe my studies at Carolina thoroughly prepared me to handle the pressures of production and enjoy the challenges I face.”
Huckabee hopes to continue the success she has found with PowerFit. Although she may not have a typical broadcast job, she is extremely grateful for the skills she learned at the J-school and is excited every day to apply them in innovative ways.
No comments:
Post a Comment