Julie Francavilla
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Julie Francavilla
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Francavilla's road
to success was a
northwest passage
By Kelley Harp
When Julie Francavilla ('87), an award-winning news anchor for KING-TV 5 news, sits at her desk in her Seattle office, she often takes a glimpse of the Flatirons. Every now and then, she gets a good look at CU, too. On her desk sits a picture of the Boulder landmark and the CU alumni calendar.
After graduating from Arvada West High School, the native Coloradan decided to continue her studies in-state. And it was at CU that she fell in love with the news. Francavilla, 34, held many internships while still in school, including one at KMGH Channel 7 and ABC News, both in Denver.
Two weeks after graduating she started reporting, editing and shooting full time in South Dakota with KOTA-TV in Rapid City. She later moved to KELO as an anchor, also in South Dakota.
Francavilla gained experience covering wildfires as well as the Republican Convention in New Orleans. A year later, she accepted a job at KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, S.D. She eventually was anchoring the 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
In 1991 she was hired as a general assignment reporter in Seattle at KING-TV, where she was quickly promoted to a weekend morning anchor. In 1993, she started anchoring for the weekday morning and noon news. She covers medical news for evening newscasts.
Francavilla's favorite times are when breaking news happens. She has been live on the air through earthquakes, riots and even while reporting about a plane hanging from a power line with a man inside.
"Few things are more professionally rewarding than knowing we did really well covering a breaking story," Francavilla said. "In the frenzy of a breaking news situation, we have to stay focused on what information the viewer needs right now, relay it in a way that makes sense and, using our best judgement, put it all together live on the air - staying focused is everything."
This is just one of the things that makes Francavilla love her job.
"I was speaking at a high school career day here in the Seattle area, and a student asked me if I'd change anything about the path of my career," Francavilla said. "My answer was clear to me immediately: Absolutely not."
Francavilla often spends time with area children talking about school, careers and the importance of education.
"I try to get through to them that your education isn't just preparation for a career, it's the big warm-up step in your life journey," she said. "You're going to be spending most of your adult life working, so you truly need to do something that you can put your heart into day in and day out."
And her advice to CU students, especially in the School, was to enjoy the journey. She said that no office can offer a view of the Flatirons and the atmosphere at CU, and no commute can match "stomping through the snow over the Varsity Pond Bridge to your classes in Macky."
She also urged students to use resources and "intern, intern and intern some more."
Growing up in Colorado, Francavilla has many ties to the area. Her husband, a Colorado native, is also a CU alum. They have two boys, ages 2 and 4. She said that they are already giving their kids the "wouldn't you love to go to CU" speeches and both kids have stuffed-buffalo toys.
Francavilla said that she loves to tell people about her CU experiences, and her favorite person to talk to about CU is her boss, Dave Lougee, also a CU graduate.
"When I tell people about CU and Boulder, I tell them about the simple daily pleasures that only CU can offer - looking up from my studies and peaking out the window to see the Flatirons, being able to get a great education in the most spectacular setting."
Francavilla urged any "old J-school pals" to get in touch with her by writing jfrancavilla@KING5.com
"In 10 years, who knows. Maybe we'll be anchoring and re-porting on the Internet," she said.