At FOX 26 Houston, Caroline Collins is testing a newsroom setup where she anchors and handles production, directing and audio. Some TV journalists warn it could harm quality and mental health; others say it reflects changing viewing habits and limited resources.
On Tuesday, FOX 26 anchor Rashi Vats listed her added tasks: directing, handling audio, routing video feeds, bringing in Zoom guests and managing graphics. Collins said her fifth day running a show went better than any before it; she clarified that she still anchors the 10 p.m. newscast from the station’s main studio, separate from the newsroom set.
Reaction was mixed: KHOU 11 reporter Deevon Rahming called the approach “absurd,” while FOX 4 Dallas’s Steve Noviello said adding technical duties risks weakening the storytelling stations are trying to preserve. Former FOX 7 Austin anchor Lauren Petrowski called the setup “pretty cool,” despite its stress and learning curve. FOX 26 did not respond to Chron’s request for comment.
