Ryan Chandler
Journalism, Journalism
Class of 2020
How are you using the skills that you learned at Moody at KXAN?
I use a bit of each class I took at Moody every single day. From crafting packages with Kate West to tracking elections with Dr. Sanders, Moody gave me a full toolkit to build upon once I started in the real world.
How are you enjoying KXAN?
KXAN is a truly special place. This newsroom is more than a workplace, it's a group of friends brought together by a common passion for serving the community by doing exceptional news. There are few places in this business where you will find this much talent, friendliness, and fun.
Have you always wanted to go into broadcast journalism?
I was fortunate to find this passion even before high school. It has always been something I've loved.
Do you have a favorite story you've reported on at KXAN?
It's hard to choose just one. If I had to single out the most memorable, it is probably this: The Rio Grande’s new reality: Kayaking through Operation Lone Star. We got special access to get up close to the humanitarian crisis on the border. I'll never forget speaking with the migrants as we were both in the middle of the river. It was an incredibly human moment that stressed the personal impacts behind the politics.
Why did you study journalism?
To be a journalist. I knew it would teach so much more than that, too. It's the best for communication skills, people skills, public speaking, critical thinking, you name it. I think everyone could benefit from a little more of those.
If you love journalism, the world needs you and there is a place for you in this business. Don't believe the naysayers. Be willing to take chances and move to new places.
Were you in any student orgs?
TSTV, Daily Texan, Student Government, Senate of College Councils, Liberal Arts Honors, Phi Kappa Psi
How was your degree helpful to your career?
There are plenty of students who major in journalism or government and never use either one. I use both every day. I chose that dual degree program intentionally with the goal of reporting on politics and policy. That decision has served me very well, giving me a step up in knowing not just how to report but how the state and national governments really work. I will say, the most beneficial parts of my degrees were the opportunities they gave me outside of the classroom. My internships in the Texas legislature and at KXAN were the two most influential experiences for my career – combine those two, and it's exactly what I'm doing now!
What have you learned so far working in the field?
I think I've realized that, as much as you learn in college, you know nothing until you're doing it. The only way you learn in this job is trial by fire. Trying, failing, and trying again are all expected and necessary parts of the process early on.
What advice do you have for #TEXASMoody students?
If you love journalism, the world needs you and there is a place for you in this business. Don't believe the naysayers. Be willing to take chances and move to new places.
What do you miss most about Moody College?
I don't know if I ever fully appreciated the wealth of knowledge at your disposal in those halls. Moody is home to some world-class journalists ready and eager to help. The professors became friends and confidantes, and I think that's rare to find in a school of Moody's caliber. Also the breakfast tacos outside Quigley's 9 a.m.
Can you talk about your career path?
At first glance, my journey through the journalism world has been pretty straightforward — intern at KXAN senior year, take a first job at a smaller market, and come right back to Austin after a short time. But it took me a long time and a lot of work to decide to finally take the jump into journalism.
But before that, I spent my junior and senior year prepping for law school — I figured I needed a Plan B to avoid all the warnings I had heard about the career prospects in news. I finished 18 months of LSAT studying and essay writing and got into my first-choice of UT. It wasn't until then that I realized I never even tried Plan A. So I turned down law school, put all those LSATs to the side, and moved to Lubbock to start in TV. And I've never looked back.
All that to say, if you really love something, put faith in your own ability to succeed and take the leap. The safe path is never the most fun.
What classes/professors helped the most?
Kate Dawson's Maymester in London gave me some of my favorite memories of my life. That class really teaches you the intangible, and often the hardest, aspects of journalism. We were dropped in London with four weeks to make a documentary about any topic or person of our choosing. THAT will teach you how to enterprise. Kate West has remained a friend and mentor after graduation. She has helped me negotiate jobs and navigate life after school. I get to work everyday at KXAN with some of the guest speakers she had to our broadcast class, and it's still not lost on me how cool that is. Tracy Dahlby's wisdom and travel stories get a ton of credit for pushing me to pursue journalism. His "Reporting the World" class was unforgettable. Sanders also gets a lot of credit for being a career mentor and nurturing my love of law and politics. Robert Quigley's audio and digital classes were also a ton of fun and I'm grateful to also have stayed in touch with him post-grad.