Davis Baker has landed a new job that allows him to cover major college athletics. And it’s just two and a half hours from his home in Atlanta. Baker is joining WSFA 12 News in Montgomery, AL as a sports anchor/reporter. He makes the move after two years as sports director at KTEN-TV in Denison, TX.
“One thing that really intrigued me was WSFA’s emphasis on college coverage, which was a jump up from mostly covering high school sports at my previous station,” Baker states. “At WSFA, I’ve already gotten to travel to Phoenix to cover Alabama in the Final Four and will get to cover plenty of great football in the future with Alabama, Auburn, Troy, Alabama State and more within driving distance.
“I had a number of friends in the industry reach out to me as soon as it was posted. I heard nothing but great things about WSFA sports director Rosie Langello and knew this could be a great fit.”
Those same friends were instrumental in Baker landing the job. “The phrase ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ seems applicable in this situation,” he believes. “When I spoke to Rosie for the first time, she told me that multiple people had already reached out on my behalf. I think that helped me stand out as a candidate.
Baker joined STAA last fall. “I found out about STAA online when I started my job search and heard good things about the organization when I reached out to a few friends that were members,” Baker recalls. “I got a call from [STAA] Owner Jon Chelesnik a few hours after I joined welcoming me to the team and explaining all the benefits of being an STAA member.
“A job search sometimes feels like a job in itself. Having [STAA’s] job leads come straight to my email was a HUGE help, especially when still having to focus on work as well.”
Though Baker’s job search ended well, the road wasn’t entirely smooth. He admits, “This job search was challenging and humbling at times. There were certain situations and opportunities that I thought I was the best candidate for and did not end up getting them. However, I believe it was God telling me to stay patient and trust in my abilities. There isn’t a job that I applied for in the four months of searching that I would rather have than my current one. I feel like I found the perfect spot at the perfect time.”