Deborah Ferguson, ‘87
Meet Deborah Ferguson, a broadcast journalism graduate of TCU and anchor for NBC 5 Today, the morning program on Dallas-Fort Worth NBC-affiliate KXAS-TV.
Deborah began working for NBC 5 in February of 1991. Prior to that, she was a reporter and anchor for WBAP Radio.
“I was out on a story and received a page from the news director at Channel 5 who asked me if I wanted the job,” Deborah said.
While at TCU, Deborah was involved with KTCU and the Skiff.
“I knew what I wanted to do since elementary school and while at TCU I was so focused on what I wanted to do that everything I did was centered around it,” Deborah said. “It was pretty easy to stay focused.”
While Deborah spends a great deal of her time working, she tries to find time for hobbies.
“I’m still so passionate about the work I do that I don’t let go of it so easily,” Deborah said. ”But when I do take off my reporter hat I enjoy reading, movies, spending time with my girlfriends and Friday night dinner with my husband.”
Deborah is married to WBAP sports anchor Steve Lamb. She has taught at the Schieffer School as an adjunct professor and is involved in American Women in Communication, American Women in Radio and Television, Association for Women Journalists, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Texas Medical Association, Dallas Press Club and the Lone Star Emmy Chapter.
Deborah Ferguson on TCU:
“The best skill I acquired at TCU, when I wasn’t in the classroom, was learning to meet new people.”
Advice for students:
“Go into broadcast knowing it is not a 9-to-5 job, but a lifestyle. Today journalists have to know more about journalism and multitasking. Broadcast reporters become print reporters; print reporters become TV reporters because of on-camera things for the Web. You have to embrace technology and use these tools to read your audience.”
On internships:
“The internship program at TCU got me into KXAS and WBAP Radio. I graduated in May of ‘87 and had a job by December of ’87. In between May and December I was scared because I had made the mistake of not networking since I had worked so much in college. Students need to get a card, keep the card and drop a line every now and then. Learn how to network.”
Follow Deborah Ferguson on Twitter: twitter.com/deborahferguson
Internships at NBC5: https://.nbcdfw.com/station/about-us/NBC_5_Internships.html
