Katherine Wideman’s Career Journey

Makayla Varner

Many students ponder the career of their dreams daily; they know exactly what they want. Other students still have no clue when they enroll in college and discover it as they go.

Katherine Wideman, a 1995 Georgia Southern University graduate, fell into the second category. She wasn’t entirely sure what career she wanted to pursue.

She began her studies as a psychology major, then explored education, nursing, and history, returned to psychology and finally settled on communications with an emphasis on broadcast.

Soon after settling into her new major, Wideman landed her first and only internship in 1995 at Television Services at the Augusta, Georgia, medical college. Here, she did various tasks, most notably recording video and audio for physicians, including filming a hip replacement and eye lens surgery. 

That same year, Wideman quickly landed her first job as a temporary employee at a reporting station where she answered phone calls. She also worked simultaneously for 102.3 Southern Rock Station Radio but eventually left due to the lack of payment.

Wideman transitioned to two new jobs that year: a basketball coaching position at Episcopal Day School and a position at WJBF, where she cut tape from 3 a.m. to noon.

Wideman often stayed after her shift to work with the noon anchor on stories for the 6 p.m. live. Her hard work, diligence and dedication paid off, and she was offered a position as a weekend newscast producer in 1996, where she left her coaching position to focus on her new role.

MMJ for a Day (year 1), students names are unknown.

In 1998, Wideman was entrusted with developing the 5 p.m. newscast. Shortly after, she became the 5 p.m. producer and worked her way up to becoming the senior 6 p.m. producer. 

During her time at WJBF, Wideman also worked with Dean Cummings, an associate professor at Georgia Southern University, to help develop and run MMJ for a Day, a program that allowed students to experience the fast-paced and demanding reality of a day in journalism.

“It’s been great to have Kathy as a guide,” said Cummings. “I’ve had a lot of news directors in my career, and I can tell that she’s one that’s going to help students become better.”

Katherine Wideman at MMJ for a Day.

Wideman left WJBF in 2000 to become a stay-at-home mom for 11 years, and after mastering all of Guitar Hero, Wideman took it as a sign to return to the work field.

She returned to WJBF, where she was hired as a newscast producer to rework the same 5 p.m. live she developed in 1998. In 2012, she was promoted to news director after a consultant met with her and recommended her for the position due to her quick thinking and decision-making skills.

Katherine Wideman (right) at WJBF after returning from being a stay-at-home mom.

She held this position until 2022 when she left for Savannah and found herself at WSAV. She held this position for two years before she decided to take up an offer she couldn’t let down—a job position as the director of communications for the Chatham County District of Attorney Office.

Wideman has enjoyed her new career at the District Attorney’s Office since 2024. She has especially enjoyed the newfound time she spent with her family, something she couldn’t get working in the news industry.