Meet our July Alumna Spotlight: Denise Rehrig

Our July Spotlight features Denise Rehrig who has recently been named the executive producer of ABC News Live “Prime with Linsey Davis.” Hear a little more about Denise, her time in Theta, and her new position with ABC!

Name: Denise Rehrig

Theta Member Class: Fall 1994

Degree: Broadcast Journalism, minor in Spanish

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

Where you live now: New York, NY

Congratulations on your new role! How does it feel to step into this new position with ABC News?

Exhilarating. It’s mind-blowing to be back here. I spent eight incredible years at Good Morning America from 2007-2015, then stepped away for a year to travel, came back to the working world to spend the next eight years as Co-Executive Producer at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, then left there last summer and worked on Election Night with Brian Williams for Amazon’s Prime Studios. I feel like I’ve lived a hundred lives in the past ten years, and at the same time I feel like I never left ABC.

What was the journey like to get to where you are now, and what advice do you have for someone who is wanting to follow your footsteps?

The journey has been a fun one, and an extremely challenging one. Challenging in that TV, and a daily show specifically, in News on top of that, is the hardest type of TV to do because it’s unrelenting. Holidays and weekends are not in any way a given, nor is sleeping - news happens at all times regardless of time of day (or night) or if it’s Christmas or a Saturday. It’s not for everyone, and I’ve told this to anyone I’ve ever offered a job or even advice on this business. It’s okay if it’s not for you - but if you’re going to do it, this is the gig. On the flip side, that rush is fun, the people are fun, and the job is fun - probably because we are all some sort of crazy to do this job voluntarily. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

What are some challenges you expect to face in this new role, and how do you plan on tackling them?

As the executive producer of ABC News Live’s primetime news show, with the incredible Linsey Davis as anchor, the standards are high and the competition is unrelenting. I like the challenge, and it’s also a little intimidating to step into this role, to be honest. We have to bring the day’s news to viewers in a way that holds their attention, informs and entertains them, and gets them to come back tomorrow, and the day after that. We do it in a way that only we can do, thanks to the huge network of reporters and producers at our fingertips here at ABC News. I’m excited to helm a show as great as this one, and Linsey is the best partner with whom to do this. She’s brilliant.

What inspired you to pursue a career in production and journalism?

I always have a million questions for everyone. My friends and family and even someone I’ve just met on the subway. I figured, let me see if I can turn this into a career.

What do you miss most about Mizzou?

My friends a 5-minute walk away on campus.

What impact has Theta left on you?

My best friend until the day I die is someone I met freshman year as a Theta. She’s stuck with me forever.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

Any and every memory living in Guest Rooms. I was lucky enough to spend my entire senior year there, thanks to my best friend’s grades (mine were sadly not up to par).

What does sisterhood mean to you now, looking back as a successful professional?

It means support and friendship regardless of what we were going through - and years later, many of my most meaningful friendships are with the girls I met in the house.

Do you have any advice for our underclassmen or for someone starting at Mizzou in the fall?

Do everything. Have fun. Worry less. And don’t forget to stop every once in  while to take it all in and be proud of yourself - you got yourself this far. You’re doing something right.