#crystalhall

Interview w/ Fox News Reporter Crystal Hall - Podcast Ep. 1

October 22, 2014

ASSIGNMENT: Art and the Industry – Crystal Hall Interview Transcript

Martine:Hello and Welcome to A Journey Through MCBS – This is Episode 1 – Wednesday, October 15th.

Thanks for joining me today! My name is Martine St. Hilaire. I’m a full-time Media Communications student at Full Sail University. Today I’ll be conducting my very first industry-related interview podcast. Currently I’m taking art history and this assignment is to interview a professional in my field of study. I’ll be receiving insight on this professional’s thoughts on visual arts. Today’s guest will be CT Fox News reporter, Crystal Hall. Sit back, relax and enjoy this interview. Again, thanks for joining…A Journey Through MCBS.

The Back Story:

I attend this really awesome church in West Hartford, CT and they always have great events throughout the year to help bring the community together. Earlier this year, I went to a women-only event and this is where I met my friend and Fox News reporter Crystal Hall.

Crystal has been a Fox News reporter for almost 2 years. Prior to Fox News, she was an anchor in Wichita Falls, TX for 3 years. She covered many stories ranging from the Texas drought to massive wildfires. In 2011 a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters division gave Crystal the honor of “Best Reporter”.

Crystal was born in San Antonio, TX and is a University of Texas graduate. While at UT, she spent a semester serving as the university reporter for the local FOX station. She also spent three years leading the campus news station as news director for the student television station.

Today Crystal will be joining me at a local café to enjoy some delicious fall soup and she was gracious enough to accept my invitation to interview her. Join me as I welcome Fox News Reporter, Crystal Hall.

Crystal! Thanks for joining me today.

Crystal: It’s my pleasure Martine.

Martine: Let’s not waste any time and get started!

What do you see as the role of visual arts particularly in today's society, particularly in your profession?

Crystal: In my profession, the role of visual arts is powerful. I believe it has a strong influence on the development of society. Everywhere you look there's visual art is some way, shape or form. It has a way of capturing people. It has a way of making people talk, perhaps even forcing people to take another look, another glance to bring people back to the time the photo was captured or when the image was drawn. Therefore, it can change the way we think about the world and our lives.

Martine: I couldn’t agree with you more, Crystal. Now, answer me this. New communications and media technologies make imagery almost instantly available. Do you believe that this is having a positive (or negative) influence in your field? If so, what’s an example?

Crystal: I believe it can have a positive influence. The visual arts I'm referring to are photographs taken by photographers. For example, back when Norman, OK was hit by a tornado an image circulated across the web almost instantly. It was the image of a mom carrying her child through the wreckage of the tornado. That image gave everyone else across the country an insight into what was happening. It was so powerful you didn't need words, you didn't need video, that photo alone was able to bring people into the destruction of that tornado. It instantly catapulted the photographer, Sue Ogrocki, into the limelight. Because of new media people were able to instantly understand how devastating the tornado was despite being thousands of miles away.

Martine: That particular Sue Ogrocki image is a great example. The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is exactly what I thought of when I kept seeing it on social media over and over again. What popular images do you see that are frequently repeated throughout your industry?

Crystal: I would say images of natural disasters. The images of flooding, the aftermath of a tornado, a hurricane, etc…

Martine: Who is one of your favorite visual artists and what is your favorite style of visual art?

Crystal: My favorite would have to be Ansel Adams.  He was an American photographer who captured black and white photography back in the day. My favorite style of visual art would be photography.

Martine: Ansel Adams is an absolutely phenomenal black and white photographer. He’s an example of a visual art pioneer. Tell me, how has the knowledge of famous artworks influenced your creative process?

Crystal: I would say it influences my creative process as a journalist by forcing me to be more creative. For instance, when I see famous artwork (painting, sculpture, photograph, etc…) it makes me think as a journalist that I want to write in such a way that captures the moment as a painter, sculptor or photographer would.

Martine: That’s great because people will be able to connect with the artifact in a way that they probably wouldn’t, had it not been articulated by a journalist.

Crystal, thank you for being here today. I had a wonderful time getting to know you even more. Your perspective on visual arts was very insightful. You being the interviewee, I bet it feels good to be on the receiving end of your job for a change.

Do you have a social media platform you’d like for folks to follow you on? Feel free to mention it.

Crystal: Social media plug (improv)

Martine: And there you have it - my very first industry-related interview as a Media Communications student. Thanks for listening and I hope you found the podcast insightful! Join me next time on A Journey Through MCBS. Take care everyone!

Follow Crystal Hall on Twitter

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Instructor Feedback: "Martine - Nice work on this! I liked the introduction to your podcast and the way you creatively formatted your podcast. Thank you for giving some background information on Crystal. She is right to note the power of images when it comes to how we see the world, this is especially true when it comes to news reporting. I think that Crystal is right to note that learning about and looking at artworks is a great source of inspiration for anyone working in a creative discipline. Your project was very professional." - Lauren Branzei, Art History Course Instructor

Student Feedback: "I really enjoyed your interview podcast! Ms. Hall's story is very interesting and that is clear in your video. I love that you made it a conversation. The fact that we can hear the background noise of the cafe gives us (the viewer) the feeling that we are part of the interview. I also thought your idea to name it Podcast Episode 1 and pointing out there will be others to follow was clever!" - Rosanna V. 

Sources: 

Crystal Hall’s Bio

Sue Ogrocki, Norman, OK Image

Ansel Adams Work

Texas Drought Image