For news anchor Steve Grant, being on camera is the easy part.
“The challenge is story development, context and perspective,” says the 40-year KY3 Inc. veteran.
It’s Grant’s goal to not only give a voice to the community and provide the best news possible, but also lead and empower his colleagues.
“People choose to follow leaders,” he says.
“In a room full of delicate egos, my mantras are: When I look good, you look good. And when you look good, we all look good. I believe in you, make me proud.”
As newsroom patriarch, Grant says he’s the writing teacher at KY3 News via his own storytelling and unofficial role as managing editor of each newscast he anchors. Grant’s seen many colleagues start out in his newsroom and move on to larger TV markets under his watch.
“I am proud of them and sometimes hear via back channels they ‘learned more’ from me than anyone else,” he says. “Their success still encourages me.”
Grant’s role as newsroom coach has led the team to several recognitions during his tenure. Grant counts Associated Press, Emmy, Kansas City Press Club and Missouri Broadcast Association awards among his personal honors.
“Steve is a true leader who not only teaches the younger members of the staff – he’s a living example of excellence,” says KY3 News Director Scott Brady. “Over the years, his advice has been key to the continued success of our news operation.”
Grant’s helping hand within the journalism field also extends nationwide.
The Springfield native was invited to join the Mid-America chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors in 2013, a position he doesn’t take lightly.
“This position is a place to inspire radio/TV news and production people to keep reaching for the stars by honoring their creativity and best practices while preserving and protecting the First Amendment,” he says.
A product of Springfield Public Schools and equipped with a bachelor’s in broadcast communications from Evangel University, Grant’s helping hand also is extended closer to home.
He’s entering his second decade of service on the foundation board for SWI Industrial Solutions Inc., Springfield’s sheltered workshop and helped start the Sunny Bunny plastic egg business.
“I must be doing something right,” Grant says, referencing a bylaw added earlier this year naming him a lifetime foundation member.
Grant’s proudest accomplishment comes outside the newsroom, serving the men and women who protect America. He says KY3’s decision to embrace the Ozarks Honor Flight program – which flew World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorial at no cost – still blows him away.
“As the face of Honor Flight, I never asked for a dime,” he says. “But viewers, family, friends and dozens of schools sent $1 million to the station so 1,300 veterans could see their memorial.”
The Ozarks group set an Honor Flight record: 16 flights from Springfield in just two years, 2009-11.
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as you ever can,” Grant says, recalling an exhortation by early Methodist John Wesley.[[In-content Ad]]
