Name: Audra Lowe
Job: Host, The Better Show, a nationally syndicated lifestyle program produced by Meredith Corp.
Location: New York
Undecided about her professional goals as a teenager, Audra Lowe decided to pursue a career in television while watching a newscast with her mother. After 24 years in the business, her work ethic and openness to change has kept her thriving in this competitive industry.
How she got the job:
When Lowe was contacted about the prospect of hosting The Better Show in 2007, the start date was only three weeks from the time the offer was presented. Lowe discussed the matter with her husband and relocated to New York. The Better Show launched nationally in 12 markets in 2007 and today airs in 180. She has interviewed a range of guests from Lisa Ling and LL Cool J to President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “The biggest learning curve is knowing a lot about everything,†she says of her transition to lifestyle TV. “You need to know who’s who from reality TV to politicians.â€
Former position:
In 2004, Lowe joined Fox Sports as an anchor and host. “I went from news to entertainment, then sports. I’ve always been a sports fan, but because it was male-dominated, I never even thought of the possibility of reporting sports.†As much as she loved sports, she found the reporting challenging. “[Sports fans] know when you aren’t truly up on your sports knowledge
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Education:
Lowe received two bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara in communications and black studies in 1993. Her intention in graduate school was to broaden her studies and fulfill her love of traveling as well, focusing on international affairs with a concentration in languages, studying Kiswahili and French. “I wanted to take my journalism [interests] to another level. I got tired of covering shootings and drive-bys. I wanted to make more of an impact on the way in which we received news and information from abroad.†However, her parents were concerned about a young, single woman working internationally, so she stayed in Los Angeles and continued to take care of her grandfather, who had diabetes and was a double amputee. She also earned a master’s in film, TV, and theater in 1998.
Training:
Aside from in-class training, Lowe interned every semester of her college career. “By the time I graduated I felt that I had already been working
First job:
Lowe’s first job offer was in Ventura, Cali
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Not all glamorous:
Lowe continued working in a variety of areas even after having been on-air. Her most frustrating gig was as a news associate at a CBS station in LA erasing tapes. “I had already been on the air at the smaller station and you have to be humble because it’s tough to go back in the other direction. And so here I am. There was a conveyer belt and when all the reporters finished filing their stories, their tapes would come down the belt and I would have to demagnetize them all. I did that for hours and hours overnight. The CBS TV newsroom was upstairs and I thought that if I crossed paths with the news directors, I might get an interview. Looking back, I realized I wasn’t ready for such a big step, but the ambition didn’t hurt! That may have been a test to see how bad I wanted to stay in a business that’s full of ups and downs. You get experience in all different areas of TV. It doesn’t happen overnight where you pop up on the air. You may end up doing a lot of work for free just to get the experience.â€
Inspiration:
“I struggled for a long time to determine what my purpose would be and what my career would be. All I knew when I was growing up was that I was probably the skinniest, least aggressive, and most naïve kid in our family. My grandmother (aka “Granny,†a tough cookie herself) pulled me to the side one day and said, ‘Baby, if you ever want to be heard, you have to speak up. You have to learn how to use your voice.’ I was about 8 or 9, but she kept telling me over time. Now that I look back on what she said, she too probably helped me get to where I am today with her tough love and encouragement. Those same life lessons ended up being the foundation for what I get to do every day.†By the time Lowe arrived at high school, she had found her voice, but she was still unsure about what she wanted to do. Her mother suggested that she become a newscaster because she loved to talk. She ended up watching the news that day for almost 24 hours, fascinated with a career she had never thought of. “At that time, watching the news, I only saw one woman on the air who looked like me. My mother said, ‘you can do that if you want to,’ and I never looked back.â€