Anastasia is an award-winning announcer, performer and television news personality. She got her start in journalism as an intern at the Senate of Canada in 2013. Tasked with writing newsletters, it was not long before she became editor-in-chief. The role opened her eyes to reporting — a skill she nurtured alongside a career in the performing arts. Anastasia’s editorial roles span radio, multiplatform editing, producing and on-air reporting at the Los Angeles Times, the Emmy award-winning show “L.A. Times Today,” CityNews Montreal and CTV News. She has also acted on film and television in productions including the Emmy-nominated 2022 remake of the Nickelodeon/Paramount+ feature “Snow Day.” As a proud alum of the University of Toronto, NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Columbia University, Anastasia is excited to help others use their voices through storytelling.
How many years have you been a judge?
1-3
What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?
Judging the Telly Awards is one of the best ways to explore what our fellow industry colleagues are up to. Not to mention that there is also so much to learn from each piece. Being a part of the panel is truly a joy!
What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?
The biggest obstacle in entertainment and media is getting your foot in the door. This is especially true if you are starting out without industry connections, as did I. Don’t get discouraged and don’t be deterred by the word “no.” Focus on refining your craft and finding ways to connect with like-minded individuals — whether through school, social media, internships or community work. Once you break in, work truly breeds work. Opportunities grow from consistency, passion and perseverance.
What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?
I am a storyteller of many forms. My work centers on connecting with communities by way of digital print and broadcast. I take stories from interviews to news packages and present live on television and radio. What I love most is that my roles allow me to amplify real issues through real voices and make a difference in creative ways. I am also humbled to meet and learn from remarkable individuals everyday.
What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?
Outside of news, I have been enthralled by a niche area within the creative writing space. Alongside my writing partner, Sinan Usta, I am producing a musical episodic which uses comedy to address the pressing social issues of today. Since connecting through NYU Tisch, developing our production has been a riveting journey. We are looking to connect with producers, networks and streaming services and looking forward to our project landing on stage and/or screen.
In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?
For better or worse, the use of artificial intelligence is growing in every field. In video, television and film it’s raising a lot of important questions around human resources and rights. The reality is AI is not going away. I believe those who figure out how to work with AI will come out ahead of those who turn on the blinders or try to distance themselves from it. However, no machine can fully replace the human connection element.
