Shining a Light on ABC 6 News, a 2019 Thursdays Downtown Partner
Thursdays Downtown is a successful community event, in part, because of its community-driven partnerships. The Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA) values ABC 6 News and its support of Thursdays Downtown. In turn, we want to shine the spotlight on them! Let's learn a little more about the organization from Carissa Drake, ABC 6 News' marketing outreach specialist!
Katie: Carissa, thanks for sitting down with me and chatting about ABC 6 News! Tell us about the organization and how long it’s been a part of the Rochester community.
Carissa: ABC 6 News has covered local, regional and national news since first coming to the air in 1953. Our offices relocated to Rochester over a decade ago as the city continued to grow and flourish. As a member of the Minnesota-based Hubbard Broadcasting community, we benefit from an industry leader in innovation and a network of sister stations that allow us to share news from the entire state of Minnesota. From Dancing with the Stars to the Good Doctor and our ABC 6 newscasts, being a part of the ABC network means you never have to go far for local news or entertainment.
Katie: What excites ABC 6 News about the community or why is the organization involved in community events?
Carissa: Rochester embodies our station’s spirit of innovation and the dedication to our caring culture. We care about giving viewers the impactful news that is happening right here at home; news that drives informed decisions; and the news that touches the lives of those in our community. We do everything we can to be involved with our viewers, from our annual Stuff the Studio campaign, to the many events we promote, host, and sponsor each year. Even the Rochesterfest Magic Night is a highlight for our team, because we truly couldn’t thrive without the community and we love the opportunity to create memories with them.
Katie: Why does the organization partner with the RDA for Thursdays Downtown?
Carissa: ABC 6 News enjoys working with the RDA because it strives for high energy and excitement during its events. Thursdays Downtown is a great opportunity to showcase our community supporting our local businesses, restaurants, or artists, and allows us to follow the celebratory atmosphere over the course of the summer.
Katie: What other community events is ABC 6 News looking forward to?
Carissa: Be on the lookout for ABC 6 News at many events throughout the summer, from sharing the official weather forecast at all Rochester Honkers home baseball games, to supporting participants at the Brighter Tomorrows’ Go for the Gold event. Tune in to ABC 6 News Good Morning for the first Rochesterfest Treasure Hunt clues, and go see our ABC 6 News Weather Lab show during Magic Night June 24. We aim to be Everywhere You Go, and look forward to a busy and entertaining summer.
Katie: One final question for you: What is the funniest thing to have happened on-air?
Carissa: We have several daily live shows, so you can imagine there would be many instances where our team needs to go with the flow, including when a Bald Eagle just couldn’t hold it any longer and relieved himself during the show! A recent team favorite is the moment when a sports question was asked of our anchors. Rachel Wick and Laura Lee were put on the spot, without an answer. You can see their entertaining response here!
To learn more about ABC 6 News, please visit its website.