SEATTLE, Wash. — Kathryn L. “Kathi” Goertzen, longtime news anchor for
KOMO-TV in Seattle, received Washington State University’s Alumni
Achievement Award during an interview with President Samuel Smith on Nov.
19. The award was a surprise to Goertzen as she was preparing a report on
Smith, who is retiring July 1, 2000.
She was cited for “outstanding leadership and service to her profession,
continued loyalty and support to her alma mater and her great ‘Cougar Pride.’”
Goertzen, who came to WSU from Seattle, joined KOMO-TV in 1980, the same
year she completed a degree in communication with highest honors. Early in
her professional career, she was the legislative reporter in Olympia, then
became news anchor for KOMO-TV weekend news in 1982. Now she is
co-anchor of the 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekday editions of KOMO
News. She also is a reporter for all KOMO newscasts.
Goertzen has earned a number of awards for excellence in broadcast journalism
at KOMO. Her honors include a National Education Reporting Award for her
news series “High School Life,” a piece that also earned first place in the
Washington Press Association competition. Another one of her news series,
“Mission to Mexico,” won 10 awards, including two Emmy Awards, two
United Press International Awards, and awards from the Washington Press
Association and the regional chapter of Sigma Delta Chi.
One of the highlights of her journalistic career was her documentary reporting
on “Why Me?” a special on breast cancer and breast cancer prevention. The
“Why Me? /Getting in Touch” campaign also received the Northwest’s first
national Emmy for Community Service.
Goertzen, a WSU Foundation Trustee since 1994, served on the Campaign
WSU Communications Committee and the College of Sciences and Arts
Advisory Board at WSU.
While a student at WSU, she worked for KWSU, the campus National Public
Radio station, and completed an internship with KREM-TV in Spokane.
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