WIFR's Zoe Chipalla turned passion for storytelling into career as news anchor
Zoe Chipalla was uncertain about her career path while taking classes at Illinois State University.
The Rockton native and Hononegah High School graduate was focusing on organizational leadership and communications at school when an opportunity knocked in the form of an internship offer at WIFR-TV in Rockford.
“I had a different major at the time and I was just trying it (television news) because it was experience and I needed internship credit for college,” Chipalla said. “I really liked it, and I stuck with it because I was passionate about it and when the opportunity came along, I was just like ‘Wow!’”
Wow, indeed.
In October 2020, Chipalla, 23, was hired as a full-time multimedia journalist at WIFR, where she was able to hone her reporting skills while covering breaking news, criminal justice stories, environmental issues and human interest features.
Just over a year later, another opportunity presented itself.
WIFR evening news co-anchor Shannon Kelly left the television industry and Chipalla was offered the job of anchoring the station’s 5, 6 & 10 p.m. newscasts alongside veteran broadcaster Mike Garrigan.
“It feels very special to be able to do this job at this age while sitting alongside Mike, who’s been there for years and has a ton of experience and knows so much about the community,” Chipalla said. “Mike has taught me a lot in just the short time I’ve been anchoring with him. He’s also very witty, and his sarcasm reflects my sense of humor. So, when it comes to teasing each other on the air, I feel it’s very natural.”
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Chipalla is a driven journalist and is determined to connect with her station’s audience, according to WIFR news director Maggie Hradecky.
“She’s an emotional writer,” Hradecky said. “We have to be balanced in so many ways, but we also have to convey the emotion of the moment and she’s very good at conveying that. I think you can see that passion both in her writing but also just knowing her.”
Away from the anchor desk, Chipalla enjoys hiking and kayaking at Rock Cut State Park.
She’s also a self-described “theater kid” who occasionally can be heard belting out an Amy Winehouse tune on the karaoke stage.
As for Chipalla's professional future?
“I’m not quite sure yet,” she said. “I thought that I would progress as a TV news reporter and eventually maybe go to Milwaukee and work there. It’s still an option but, for now, I’m trying to focus on how to get better as an anchor.”
Ken DeCoster: kdecoster@rrstar.com; @DeCosterKen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: WIFR's Zoe Chipalla turned passion for telling stories in career
