Who is Lily Catherine Gayle? Can we get to know you?

Lily Gayle is a driven, hard-working, firecracker of a person. I love learning new things, cooking, I am a dog mom to a furbaby named Theodore and he is the love of my live. I am a daughter of a former missionary. I lived in Peru for about ten years of my life and am biligual (spanish). I am the oldest of four children and am the first college graduate of my family.

I gratuated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelors in sports broadcast and a minor in business in December of 2021 and am graduating with my masters in public relations tomorrow! (12/02/2023). So, the requirements for reporting are minimal, just the passion to report the truth with an unbiased opinion. I always have loved sports- so much so that I wanted to play American football, but obviously I never was able to but I told myself that I would be on a field someday, somewhere, somehow.

Could you tell us a little about your profession? What are the requirements to become a reporter?

And now, here I am, reporting on professional sports as a rink side reporter. It hasn’t been easy, and I have gotten a lot more no’s than I have gotten yes as an answer, but once I got that yes, I was able to fly.

What training should those who what to become a reporter, presenter or anchor take?

Go to a great broadcast program, create a podcast, research good role models and someone you want to mirror. If you have an accent, learn how to quell it. If you want to report on sports, learn every sport that you can, even if it’s pickle ball, LEARN IT. If you want to be a political anchor, learn every side of the aisle, make it your second language. Tiktok is a great resource, many reporters use that to give news to their followers and make the reporters more human.

Can you tell us about the beauty contest you participated in? Is this a passion for you?

I started in the Miss America Org back in 2019, competing for my university title which I ended up winning in 2021. Once I realized that I could use this platform for suicide prevention and education, I ran with it. Fast forward a few years later, here I am as a 3x top ten finalist with over 37,500 dollars awarded in scholarships and 3,000 readers and supporters. I am going back to state as Miss Louisiana Port City 2023. My community service initiative is the Lifter’s Project:

Worth Your Heartbeat a suicide prevention and education program that I created as a mental health awareness program. With my organization there is also talent involved and I play piano!

What is the importance of public relations education in journalism?

Public Relations is so important! So important in fact I got a whole other degree in it. Being a reporter and pageant titleholder, you are most likely to be your own publicist, branding agent, and spokesperson so learning all about PR is crucial to having a great public presence.

What characteristics should a good reporter have? What is the importance of ethical principles?

Someone who is personable, easy to listen to, a go getter and proactive attitude and who is constantly curious. You will be a part of a team so being a team player is also very important.

What advice would you give to your younger colleagues?

Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Especially as a woman in sports, you get pushed around. Demand and command respect. You were hired for a reason. Act like it. You have the same degree as many of the people you will be working with, you deserve to be treated equally. Don’t be afraid to fight for what is yours. You are qualified. You deserve this. Also, don’t sleep with players, don’t flirt, they are your co-workers. You can be friends, and you will have relationship with them, but nothing more than that.

Do you have any projects you are considering related to your profession?

Yes! So I am currently working with Zydeco Hockey in Baton Rouge. But my passion project at the moment is my mental health curriculum for grades 9-12. I was able to complete half of it for my masters dissertation and will be graduating cum laude because of this dissertation. I would love to see my curriculum in school systems in all 64 parishes by 2025- 2026.