#MediaMonday – Ali Vetnar
Today’s #MediaMonday comes to us from KTAR News reporter Ali Vetnar. I met Ali’s dad, Jeff, when we were kids and attended the same church.
Ali, time to share:
I was born and raised in Glendale, Ariz. I attended Mountain Ridge High school and went on to study at Scottsdale and Glendale Community Colleges, and graduated from Arizona Christian University.
I started inside the Bonneville building in Phoenix as a summer intern for 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station after my junior year of college. I spent roughly my entire summer heading into my senior year learning from some of the best sports broadcasters Arizona has ever seen. I worked under every show 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station offered at that time including: Doug and Wolf, Bickley and Marotta, B-Train, and Burns and Gambo. During my summer internship I got to attend great opportunities alongside some of the hosts while at Cardinals Summer Camp and Diamondbacks games. As my internship came to a close I made sure both Sports and News knew I was interested in working for Bonneville. I had become intertwined in both broadcasting sides of the radio station hoping to network myself into a job. By the time my internship was over I was offered a job as a part-time assistant producer for Mac and Gaydos. That being nearly three years ago, I quickly proved I could handle more responsibility and that I wanted to do more when it came to broadcasting and less behind the scenes with producing. Approaching college graduation, I was offered a full-time role as a weekend news anchor and moved into a weekday news desk editor. Investing more, I started to find a passion for chasing stories. That being what has led me to my current role now as a reporter.
Earning my bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from Arizona Christian University, I started to get a better understanding for what my future looked like. I played soccer throughout my four years in college. In my early years of school I was unsure of what I wanted to study but followed my skill of playing soccer to help with tuition. But as time started to run out in the classroom and on the field I did whatever I could to try and find something I was good at and passionate about, just like soccer. My internship with Arizona’s Sports helped me discover both.
It is pretty remarkable to stand back and see myself working at the oldest radio station in Arizona. Reporting in my hometown – on the streets that I grew up on gives me a sense of belonging and comfort. As I started my broadcasting career in my hometown I cannot help but feel like I have a slight advantage knowing the city’s streets while also improving many relationships I already had with local first responders and other city agencies. I feel connected not only as a news reporter but as a citizen.
The top three stories I have covered include: John McCain’s funeral in Phoenix, President Donald Trump’s rallies in both Phoenix and Mesa alongside the violent protests that went along with them, and the historical Red-For-Ed teacher protests that attracted tens of thousands to the Arizona Capitol.
When I am not working I love being active and to spend time with my boyfriend, our families, and friends. Growing up playing sports, I have grown accustomed to an active lifestyle. Having one too many injuries on the soccer field, I do not play anymore. But I love staying active while hiking, doing yoga, and working out. I also really enjoy spending time up north at my family’s cabin in Munds Park.
A little known fact about me, growing up I wanted to be a firefighter. Later in high school I invested more into what that career would entail. That is when discovered I could not stand the sight of blood without passing out.
You can follow me on Twitter at @Ali_Vetnar, on Instagram at @AliVetty.
