An Interview with Lily Jang, TV Journalist

She’s one of the most well-known and recognizable women in Houston, and she’s incredible at what she does. Lily Jang, News Reporter at KHOU, has known since she was in high school that this is what she wanted to do, and she made that dream happen. Aside from her career on air, she has a strong desire to give back, help others, and just live well. Keep on reading to see what Lily’s biggest ‘pinch me’ moment has been, what she’s doing when she’s not working, and why her job isn’t all glamour. Enjoy!

How long have you been with KHOU? What positions have you held there?

I’ve been with KHOU for 4 ½ years. I started as a morning news anchor and am now a Report for 4/5/6pm weekday shows.

Did you always know you wanted to be on TV? If not, when and why/how did you know this is what you wanted to do?

I remember distinctly in the 9^th grade watching the news with my parents. I saw breaking news coverage and the chaos, adrenaline, and composure the reporter had to deal with all at the same time. That’s the moment I wanted to be a storyteller. I told my parents I wanted to be the next “Connie Chung” haha. I pursued broadcast journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and I’m blessed to say I’ve had an amazing adventure chasing my career around the country.

What’s your favorite part about your job? Most rewarding? Most challenging?

I love that no two days are ever the same. I love meeting new people every day with amazing stories and getting to share their stories with our community. The most challenging part of my job is now over, actually. I woke up at 1:30am each morning to be ready for the morning news at 4:30am. I have a more normal shift now that lends itself to life balance!

What’s a typical day in your life like? I imagine it starts very early in the morning!

I get into the station and hit the ground running. It usually consists of getting my assignment, setting up and conducting interviews, finding the video elements, putting my pieces together and going live by 4pm for all 3 afternoon shows.

What’s been the biggest ‘pinch me’ moment of your career, thus far?

Meeting Oprah. I had stadium seating in Amarillo when I was a budding reporter and watched ‘freedom of speech’ play out in real life when Oprah was sued by Texas cattlemen for making statements about Mad Cow Disease. The Jury’s verdict came on the second day of deliberations after five weeks of testimony. She was not found guilty of defamation. Because she was forced to move her show to Amarillo during the trial, I was able to be in the audience. That was the fun part. The fascinating part was seeing first-hand, the power of The First Amendment.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into your industry?

If you simply want to be on TV, go to Hollywood. In broadcast journalism, you’ll spend years paying your dues making no money at all and hustling to make ends meet. TV news is cut throat and you’re expected to hit many deadlines throughout the day. Stories fall through and you’re still expected to make miracles happen and still hit your slot time in the newscast. If at the end of the day, broadcast journalism is something you’re passionate about, find a station to intern at. Talk to everyone in every part of the newsroom and learn the ropes of what a day is like for a reporter/anchor/producer. You’ll see that there is very little glamour in what I do for a living.

What inspires you?

Traveling the world inspires me. I have always been a wanderlust. Drop me in the middle of nowhere by myself in a foreign country and my heart is full. I love to learn how people live and what makes people happy in different corners of the world. That’s why I am a Travel Editor for CKW Luxe Magazine. Two amazing trips I want to share: I was able to go back to the neighborhood where I was born in Saigon, Vietnam called Cho Lon. My parents always told me stories about growing up there, but seeing it in person was surreal. I always wonder who I would be if I never left. Secondly, during my visit to Istanbul, Turkey, I attended prayer service at the Blue Mosque. I watched how people prayed, listened to words from their heart, and as foreign as that was to me, it felt like home. We are all the same. We are human beings trying to make it in this world.

What motto/quote do you always try to live by?

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness – DALAI LAMA

When you’re not working, what are you doing?

I spent a lot of time with my family and friends. I’m a native Houstonian, so my lifelong friends are here in this town. On a typical day, you’ll find me at the gym, trying out new restaurants, or at the karaoke bar belting it out even though I can’t sing LOL. Truth be told, I’m actually a homebody and love nothing more than a Friday night at home with good company, deep convo, great food, and a fantastic bottle of wine.

You always seem to have a smile on your face and a ‘pep in your step’! What do you attribute this to?

Living well. Being true to who I am. I think our prime purpose in life is to help others. I love being able to emcee events, give back to charities close to my heart, and mentor students to find their purpose.

Thanks, Lily!

Be sure to follow Lily on Twitter and Instagram.

Read past interviews here.

If you or someone you know might be a good fit for this series, reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you!