Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucas McFadden.
Hi Lucas, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
“It was a dark and stormy night.” I’m just joking. I love a good laugh and always telling jokes, and being the student in class who would volunteer to give a presentation in front of their peers helped me get comfortable in all situations. I am also very interested in cameras, TV, and the production of shows. So when I learned in elementary school that I could use a camera to talk with someone, tell their story, and share it with others, it was a no-brainer that working in TV News was for me. Fast forward to high school (Lewisville High School in Chester County, SC), and I was the anchor for our High School TV Show. In college (College of Charleston in SC), I interned at the NBC Station in Charleston, and then, with a college degree in hand, I got a job working at CN2 News in Rock Hill, SC. After several years at the station, I got an offer to work at WIS TV 10, the NBC Station in Columbia, SC. I worked the early morning shift (2 AM – Noon) and liked it there. I’m a morning person, so it was easy for me to get up. After several years of that schedule, I returned to CN2 News, where I am currently the Anchor / Producer of our 30-minute EMMY award-winning newscast. In 2017, I was offered the morning co-host spot on WRHI Radio’s Palmetto Mornings in Rock Hill. I was born and raised in South Carolina. I went to high school and college in South Carolina and have worked all my TV and Radio jobs in the Palmetto State. The year 2024 will mark my 23rd year as a TV news reporter and my 7th year as a radio show co-host.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Working in TV and Radio has been a challenging ride, but one I was prepared for once I entered the industry in 2000. I knew it was competitive, but 60 resumes tapes later and a year of taking an entry-level job at a TV Station, patience and hard work paid off when I landed my first on-air job at CN2 News in Rock Hill. SC. I got used to hearing the words “No” or “We are looking for someone else” a lot, but I used that to work much harder to prove the critics wrong. Once you get in the industry, everyone from the viewers to management is constantly critiquing you, so I had to develop a thick skin, which I got from hearing “No” in the previous years.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to be more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I work as an early morning Radio Co-Host of WRHI’s Palmetto Mornings (Rock Hill, SC) between the hours of 6-9 AM, and then from 9 AM – 6 PM, I produce a 30-minute, EMMY award-winning newscast for CN2 News (Rock Hill, SC). On both platforms, I write stories, sometimes edit them, interview people in the community, and produce content to inform residents in York, Lancaster & Chester County what is happening in their backyards. I am proud of many things, one being highlighting everyday people who do fantastic work. To me, these people are the celebrities of our country. I am also proud that in 2014, I helped anchor and produce a newscast that won a regional EMMY award for TV News. On the Radio side of my job, our morning radio show has been named Best Talk Show in South Carolina. While we certainly don’t work for the trophies, it is nice to be recognized by your peers.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
If you are interested in a TV News or Radio job, start early. Get an internship and learn every skill that you can. It will pay off in the long run. Be curious about the different jobs at the station and how they add to the overall product.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lucasmcfadden79
- Facebook: Lucas McFadden
- Linkedin: Lucas McFadden
- Twitter: @LMcFaddenCN2
