Janel Forte is a general assignment reporter, at WFAA in Dallas, Texas.
1) Who are you? Inquisitive by nature. I’m always asking questions. I want to know the who, what, where and why, but also the how and what it made you feel like. So, although I didn’t initially think I wanted to be a journalist, when I stumbled into my first news opportunity, immediately things just clicked.
So far, it’s been a wild ride. I’ve covered some of the biggest stories across the country. Chasing leads, doing interviews, making tight deadlines, all while priding myself on being factual and putting together compelling content which is easy for viewers to digest.
Most recently, I was a National Correspondent based in Atlanta for cable start-up NewsNation. Before that – I covered breaking news at WFAA sister-station KHOU in Houston. I began in local news as an anchor and reporter at WLOX-TV, the legacy station in Biloxi, MS.
I’m originally from Chicago, but I have DFW ties. I attended high school at LD Bell in Hurst (heyyy H-E-B). I’m a proud graduate of Cornell University. I also have a Master’s from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
While you’ll see me covering an array of stories at WFAA. Transportation will be my specialty, and it’s fitting because both my parents are retired from the transit industry.
2) What are your interests? I love to travel and experience our vast world. I’ve been to 43 of the 50 US states (the other 7 are coming), toured Europe; and explored the Caribbean, Central and South America. If you see me staring off into space it’s probably because I’m mapping out my next adventure (and if you have recommendations, send them my way).
I’m also bookworm. My grandmother was a librarian, and from a young age, I’ve always been an avid reader. In fact, I attribute much of my storytelling abilities to my late grandma, who not only pushed me to read, but write, too.
In addition, I love to shop, take pictures, music festivals, and the MCU.
3) What do you like about working at WFAA? WFAA has such a rich legacy and a great reputation for quality journalism. So many amazing journalists have worked here at some point. Fortunately, a lot of them are still in the building. It’s just a really special place that champions authenticity and diversity, and it shows in the stories we put on the air every day.
4) What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I’m a former student athlete . I played D1 NCAA volleyball. I still love to play, and if you’re lucky, you might run into me on one of DFW’s many sand courts talking smack.
Follow Janel on X and Facebook
Speaker Request: Click Here
