Building Your Brand With Checkey Beckford
On our WomenHeard podcast, host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich welcomes
Checkey Beckford, an Emmy Award-winning reporter for NBC 4 New York. Beckford appears on TV every weeknight, covering breaking news and general assignment stories happening in the Tri-State area. During our podcast episode, she discusses the challenges that many women face in the workplace today, her journey to becoming a news reporter, and branding through social media. Here are some highlights to look forward to in the conversation.
A WORKING MOM’S WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Beckford notes that COVID changed things for many working moms, revealing their vulnerability despite their accomplishments. During the pandemic, women were often the ones who were juggling full-time work and full-time parenting. They had to learn to balance both roles. Now that many of those women have returned to the office, they must recalibrate their lives again. Women saw their jobs were at greater risk compared to their male counterparts, and Beckford wonders how many have understanding employers. This shift has caused many women to experience even more “mom guilt” than they did before Covid-19. “Give yourself the grace to be able to handle it all,” Beckford suggests.
TRUST YOUR GUT
Beckford has had a varied career. After she landed her first job as a PR Coordinator, she often recalled her TV network internship and her love for being on the road. This prompted her to switch gears to working as a writer, gaining valuable experience and support. And that eventually fueled her desire to be on the air. She created a tape with photographers, landing a TV job in Champaign, Illinois. After two years there and four years in Sacramento, she moved to New York.
When choosing between her two initial news jobs, Beckford says connecting with a female assistant news director “made a huge difference” and seeing representation was a “huge deal.” She navigates her career by considering what will help her grow and what will fulfill her immigrant dream and make her mother proud.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN BRAND
When asked about transformations in her industry, Beckford immediately pointed to social media, noting that it’s crucial for professionals to brand themselves. While the core of writing and breaking news hasn’t changed much, there’s a greater emphasis on using social media for personal branding. Connecting with viewers on a personal level brings more people to your channel. Beckford adds that there’s no formal training for social media; it’s about finding what works for you. “Everyone should be their individual brands,” she says.
Thank you to Checkey Beckford for joining us! For the full interview, listen to NYWICI’s WomenHeard podcast.
