Success well earned

When it comes to local women in business, there are few names or faces as recognizable as Linda Watkins-Bennett. A staple of journalism in the North Valley for decades, she got her start when the industry was undeniably male-dominated and less than welcoming to women looking to make a name for themselves. Regardless, she set her sights forward, fought the uphill battle, and earned her position at the top. Over the years, she has delivered some of the area’s biggest—and certainly most memorable— stories. She has created inroads and partnerships throughout the community and within her own industry, earning the respect of her peers and Northstate residents alike. She stands as a shining example that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and work for what you want.

Linda’s grandparents moved to Chico in 1941 in search of their own dream. Her grandfather took up work at the Diamond Match Company, while her grandmother worked hard at home and took on side jobs to help support the family, like knocking and harvesting almonds in nearby almond orchards. Their example instilled the value of hard work in their four children, encouraging their youngest daughter, Linda’s mother, to strive for the same. She was the first member of the family to go to college, and as a result, had the same wish for her daughters. “There was no question about whether my sister or I were going to go to college.” Linda says, “She just wanted us to get an education so we could be what we wanted to be. She didn’t expect anything else. She and my father divorced when I was a toddler, and she did everything she could as a single mother to set the right example for us. She made sure we had the tools we needed to succeed. We were definitely poor monetarily, but we were rich in so many other ways.”

A natural-born storyteller, Linda grew up enamored with writing and spent a decent amount of her time at Chico High School exploring that skill. When she entered college at Chico State, there was little doubt as to what she wanted to do. As she felt creative writing “had been done,” she wanted to chart her own path, and broadcasting was still a somewhat new frontier for women. “Barbara Walters was one of the original female anchors.” Linda recalls, “I first became aware of women in broadcasting thanks to her, and the job seemed like a dream come true. She blazed the trail for so many women and was one of the reasons I decided to major in communications and broadcasting.” Linda graduated from the program in 1985 and set out to make a name for herself in the industry, finding her first television internship right here in Chico at KHSL News.

At the time, most broadcast hopefuls were looking to larger markets to get their foot in the door. Considered “union shops,” the internship programs provided a mostly eyes-on introduction to the studio and networking. By staying local, Linda was able to get a jumpstart in broadcasting with actual hands-on experience. She was afforded the opportunity to shadow other reporters in the field, work in the studio, and create her own reel. Being in a smaller market without the demands of traffic and travel, she was able to continue working a second job at the former Karen’s restaurant until she was hired full-time at KHSL.

38 years since she first stepped foot in the newsroom, Linda has just about seen and done it all where broadcasting is concerned. During that time, she has reported, written, produced, and anchored the local news. She has won numerous awards and watched her news station grow, merge, and evolve to adapt to an ever-changing world filled with new technology and new expectations. All the while, Linda has remained true to her calling and steadfast in her commitment to providing unbiased information to those who look to her for it.

“So much has changed in the time I’ve been here.” Linda says, “Everything is so different with technology now. Reporting, writing, editing, and even filming can all take place right on your phone. When I started, I had to go out, videotape the report, return to my desk at the station and type it all out, then edit it, before heading back out to deliver it live. Now, everything can be done in the field on one device. It’s amazing how far we’ve come! I began as an intern and put in

25 years in the field reporting. My first opportunity to anchor came about 3 years after I started, and not long after, I was anchoring the news at noon. I also anchored the early morning news for almost a year and more recently took over the 4 pm show when Debbie Cobb retired. It’s been an incredible journey.”

As one can imagine, that journey has had its fair share of ups and downs though, as news isn’t always positive. Linda has been on the frontline for everything from fatal car wrecks to the disastrous Camp Fire, an experience which still haunts her to this day. “The Camp Fire tops all the stories I’ve ever had to report.” Linda says in a somber tone, “I couldn’t stop myself from crying on air. We were live 24/7 for five straight days, with each of us taking four-hour shifts at the news desk.

There were live news conferences every night where we would wait to hear the number of deaths, the identities of those located and those still missing, and the ever-growing magnitude of the damage. I stopped counting at 100 personal friends who lost their homes up there. I still continue covering it because it needs to be covered. Thankfully, the emotion has shifted to positive as we have a representative come in once a month to talk about the important updates, community events, and rebuilding efforts.”

Though Linda’s success is incredible, it’s important to note she’s earned it while also having a family of her own. Married for 38 years with one son, Linda is proof that you truly can have it all. “You have to love what you do.” Linda advises, “That’s where the reward is. I love my family, and I love the work I do, so I invest myself fully in both. Broadcasting is a very hard business. Sometimes we face danger just to make sure we don’t get scooped. It’s exciting, frightening, and rewarding all at the same time. You have to be brave and put your time in, but just as with everything else, you get what you put into it. When it comes to journalism, it’s important to understand the power you have and why you need to remain fair, balanced, and impartial regardless of who you are speaking with. I’m just grateful to have been given the opportunity to make a difference in my community and tell stories that might otherwise have not been told—happy and sad alike. I’ve been a huge advocate of the arts for years, and this platform has given me the ability to shine a light on everything the arts bring to Northern California. I couldn’t be happier with the path I decided to take 38 years ago.”

Linda continues to be a champion of those marginalized and without a voice while bringing everything the Northstate has to offer directly to your TV on Action News Now. She is currently the anchor of Action News Now at Noon and produces and anchors Action News Now at 4 pm, and we couldn’t imagine local broadcasting without her. If you see her around town, please say hello and extend a thank you for everything she’s done for our community and women in broadcasting.