#MediaMonday – Kaely Monahan
Today’s Media Monday comes to us from Kaely Monahan, a news anchor and reporter for KTAR and the recently-elected secretary of the Valley of Sun Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
She’s an international journalist who is the former editor of GetOut at the East Valley Tribune; creator, executive producer and editor of Popcorn Fan Film Reviews podcast; and a film critic for the Phoenix Film Festival.
Kaely, time to share:
I’m an Arizona native with a passion for news, arts, entertainment, and popular culture. My international experience includes freelance assignments at both CBS News and The Times in London.
I’m a proud Wildcat. In 2009, I obtained my Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of Arizona in classical studies, with an emphasis on Greek and Roman mythology. (Aut viam inveniam aug faciam!) I completed my Master’s in International Journalism overseas at City University London, specializing in broadcast and digital journalism.
I was also one of three founders and executive producers for the online student news program diverCity, which was founded in the fall of 2013.
I love the movies, which spurred me to create Popcorn Fan Film Reviews. The now weekly podcast covers everything from currently showing movies to foreign films. With guest reviewers, talent interviews, and local Arizona film coverage, Popcorn provides a fan’s perspective of what’s now showing.
My top favorite movies:
Jurassic Park
Bringing Up Baby
Funny Face
Lord of the Rings (all three!)
Finding Nemo
In the years before she became a journalist: I worked as a university recruiter, sales associate, librarian, and actress. I was also production assistant on two locally made independent films.
Dancing has long been a part of my life. Middle school through high school I performed Irish step dance and competed in many local competitions. For the last six years I’ve been a belly dancer specializing in American Tribal Style.
I’m also SCUBA certified and have dived several wrecks in Hawai’i and the Caribbean.
