Check Out Riley Miller’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Miller.

Hi Riley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am the 5 p.m. anchor for WJCL 22 News, but getting here took me to places I never imagined.

I am from Bowling Green, Kentucky. I graduated from the University of Kentucky, majoring in Journalism with an emphasis on broadcasting. After graduating, I took my first job in Fargo, North Dakota as a reporter. After about six months of reporting, I was promoted to Monday-Friday anchor on the morning show, First News.

Then after a year with that title, I accepted a job at WJCL 22 News in Savannah as a morning reporter. I was in that role for about a year and a half, then I was promoted to 5 p.m. anchor back in 2019. I have been in that role ever since and have loved every second of it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been anything but a smooth road, but if I could tell 22-year-old, fresh-out-of-college Riley where she is today, I think she would be beyond pleased. The toughest part of my career was getting started. I accepted a job more than a thousand miles away from home where I didn’t know a single soul. I missed my family and friends, and I was in complete culture shock. This southern Kentucky girl had to learn how to drive in the snow and how to dress for it. Where I was from, if we ever got any amount of snow, the town shut down and it meant a movie day at home.

I had to learn my craft by doing it. That meant making mistakes live on air. As a bit of a perfectionist, that was really hard for me. I had to connect with an audience I knew nothing about. I honestly felt like an alien at times, and my southern accent made me stick out like a sore thumb. But wow – what I learned in my first six months, I never would have imagined. I truly believe I am in the position I am today because of that first job.

I had a job offer in my hometown, a small market I grew up watching. But my college professor encouraged me to take the Fargo job. He said, “You grew up in Kentucky. You went to college in Kentucky. And now you want to take your first job in to?’ He really pushed me to get outside of my comfort zone. And while I had several tearful phone calls to my mom asking, “What the heck am I doing here?!” I know that leap of faith taught me job lessons and life lessons I would have never learned without that experience.

It really made me grow up and inspired me to work hard so I could take my career to the next level.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an anchor/ reporter for WJCL 22 News in Savannah. I report dayside and anchor the 5 p.m. newscast Monday – Friday. I’ve covered pretty much everything — from shootings, to hurricanes, to St. Patrick’s Day parades, and everything in between.

But what I really love is storytelling. One of my favorite things I get to do is my weekly Lowcountry Living segment – highlighting local people, places, and things in the community every Monday at 5. There are so many inspiring people who live here who deserve to have their stories told. I am honored I get to share their stories. Obviously, working in news, you cover many dark, sad stories each and every day. But I really love finding the positive, feel-good stories in our community that bring smiles to people’s faces.

People need to hear those stories now more than ever, especially after the past two years we all went through. I hope I can deliver some sunshine through viewers’ television screens as much as possible.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
COVID-19 taught me how important my job truly is.

While much of the nation stayed home during the pandemic, newsrooms were working overtime. My team was working hard to keep viewers informed in a very scary and uncertain time. While it’s something no one could have ever prepared for, I am grateful for the mentors and leaders I had guiding me through and keeping me sane.

The pandemic also taught me life is short. It showed me the importance of prioritizing mental health, taking vacation days, and hugging loved ones’ necks every chance you get.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: WJCL.com
• Instagram: @rileymiller
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RileyMillerTV
• Twitter: @RileyWJCL