Elizabeth O'Hara

Liz is also actively involved in encouraging young students to pursue a career in journalism, and has served as a guest speaker for National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), UTEP's Mother/Daughter Mentor program, LULAC's National Women's Conference, and various middle and high school career fairs. Liz is a member of the Local Committee of Honor for the "Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement" exhibit featured at the Chamizal National Memorial. She is also active on the board of governors for the Lone Star Emmy Chapter and holds several positions with the Zeta Tau Alpha alumnae chapter.

"I was a student at the University of Texas at El Paso, getting ready to graduate and trying to decide what to do with my journalism degree when I did an unpaid internship at a local TV station. The moment I walked into the newsroom, I knew THIS is where I needed to be--but how? I took every unwanted job there I could get -- filing faxes, answering phones, picking up lunch for the "real" reporters, etc. Along the way, I also paid attention and learned to write scripts. Three weeks after graduation, I had a "real" TV job at another affiliate and though the pay was lousy, I'd broken into the business.

Flash forward three years and I was now looking to leave El Paso. I took my ambition, my husband of just five days, and a Texas-style "winter coat" to Anchorage, Alaska and promptly froze. The women in my new newsroom took pity on me and quickly outfiitted me in their snow boots, winter gloves and a good coat until I got paid and could get my own. I loved Anchorage and the new friends I made but after two years, I was ready to come back to the warm Southwest. Enter... KFOX.

I've now been back home since March 2000 and I certainly don't miss those Alaska winters. While here, I've been lucky to run the gamut of jobs: reporter, weekend anchor, anchor of KFOX News at Nine, and now KFOX News Director. But I have to give a lot of credit to those I worked with along the way: fellow reporters, anchors, photographers, editors and others who, in ways big and small and at times when they didn't know I was looking, taught me so much about our business and the craft of journalism. All that I am is because of what I learned though them.

My family should also get a big recognition. They certainly have put up with the hours this job requires and the distractions I often bring home. I have a wonderful husband, the most precocious daughter and a baby boy. It is to them I dedicate whatever kudos I may get.

AwardsRTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards2006 Regional Award - Breaking News - Fugitive Manhunt Regional Award - Documentary - Juno and Savannah 2004 Regional Award - Investigative Reporting - Patriot: Success or Failure? Regional Award - Continuing Coverage - 507th Maintenance Company 2002 National Award - Continuing Coverage - Alexandra Flores Regional Award - Continuing Coverage - Alexandra Flores

Texas Lone Star Emmy Awards 2007 Emmy Nomination - Best News Anchor - KFOX News Emmy Nomination Contributor - Team Coverage - KFOX News Emmy Nomination Contributor - Community Service - KFOX News 2003 Emmy Nomination Contributor - Overall Excellence - KFOX News

Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmy Awards2003 Emmy Nomination - Service Story - Alone and Defenseless Emmy Nomination - Best Newscast - KFOX News at Nine Emmy Nomination - News Writing - Waiting for Justice Emmy Nomination - News Writing - Deceptive Diplomas 2002 Emmy Award - Service Story - Live Mammogram! Emmy Nomination - Best Reporter Emmy Nomination - Breaking News Coverage - Alexandra Flores 2001 Emmy Award Contributor - Overall News Excellence - TeamFOX

Press Club of Dallas - Katie Awards2002 Katie Award - Breaking News Reporting - Alexandra Flores 2001 Finalist - Investigative Reporting - Pretty Poison

Texas Associated Press2008 Emmy Award - Best TV Special - Danny Olivas: El Pasoan in Space Emmy Award - Best Website 2007 1st Place - Breaking News - August 1st Floods 1st Place - Continuing Coverage - August 2006 Floods Hon. Mention - Breaking News - August 3rd Floods 2004 2nd Place - Continuing Coverage - 507th Maintenance Company Hon. Mention - Investigative Reporting - Beneath the Border Hon. Mention - Serious Feature - Sgt. Curtis Campbell 2003 1st Place - Investigative Reporting - Dancing with Danger 2nd Place - News Anchor 2nd Place - Gov't/Political Reporting - Terrorist Cargo? 2nd Place - General Assignment - Waiting for Justice 2002 1st Place - Continuing Coverage - YISD 2nd Place - News Reporter 2nd Place - Investigative Reporting - Pretty Poison Honorable Mention - Medical & Health - Live Mammogram

New Mexico Associated Press2007 1st Place - Breaking News - August 1st Floods 1st Place - Continuing Coverage - August 2006 Floods 2004 2nd Place - Continuing Coverage - 507th Maintenance Company 3rd Place - Investigative Reporting - Beneath the Border 2002 1st Place - Breaking News - Windstorm 1st Place - Public Service - Live Mammogram 2nd Place - Continuing Coverage - Alexandra Flores 3rd Place - Investigative News - Pretty Poison 2001 3rd Place - Continuing Coverage - Election 2000

Southern New Mexico Press Club2002 1st Place - Investigative Reporting - Pretty Poison 1st Place - Series/Documentary - Fox News Magazine 2nd Place - News Reporting 2nd Place - Feature Reporting 2001 1st Place - Newscast - Fox News at Nine

Houston Press Club2003 2nd Place - Best Newscast - KFOX News at Nine 3rd Place - Gov't Reporting - Terrorist Cargo? 2002 1st Place - Breaking News Reporting - Alexandra Flores 3rd Place - Investigative Reporting - Pretty Poison

Headliners Foundation of Texas2002 Winner - Hard News Coverage - Bioterror: Are We Ready?

Communicator Awards2002 Honorable Mention - Inside the A.D.A. 2001 Crystal Excellence - Alexandra Flores Honorable Mention - Live Mammogram Honorable Mention - Fox News Magazine/Homeland Defense

American Cancer Society2001 2nd Place - TV Big Market News - Live Mammogram!