Meet the Writer: Who is Taylor Deckert?
A 20-something millennial news reporter from North Carolina, living the Iowa life
“It’s me, Hi! I’m the new columnist, It’s me.”
**Sing that to the tune of Antihero by Taylor Swift.**
Good Morning, Siouxland!
Hi! If you live in Northwest Iowa or anywhere in the Tri-state area you may have heard my name or voice before. “Good Morning Siouxland! I’m Taylor Deckert. News 4 Today starts now!” I start every morning with a cup of coffee and a 10-minute drive to work, but unlike most people, my day starts at 3 a.m. I am a local news reporter and morning anchor for KTIV News 4 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Follow along on Facebook!
I call myself a ‘Midwest transplant’ because I am originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. Born and raised in a big city, life seemed to move fast and slow all at the same time when I packed up a van and moved 20 hours away from home for my first job. I started as a news reporter with KMEG14 and FOX44 in 2019. I can’t believe how much my life has changed since then. Over the last 5 years, I have moved to Illinois, and then back to Sioux City all while living and breathing local news. I also met my now husband, and have taken on the role of military wife (there is a lot more camouflage in my life and laundry!) The only thing that has kept me going for the last 5 years is the soundtrack of Taylor Swift, and my strength in the Lord’s promises.
Did I mention we just adopted a 14-week-old mini dachshund? Yes, he’s the cutest wiener dog you’ll ever see. His name is Brewer. You’ll hear about him often.
Who is “Millennial”?
As Wiki would say, “Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as ending birth years, with the generation typically being defined as people born from 1981 to 1996.”
1996! That’s me! I’m excited to share my life with you as a twenty-something Millennial/slightly Gen Z learning to navigate life with a few different challenges people also don’t have with the 3 a.m. alarm clock, a husband leaving often for his service to our country, to live a very very active lifestyle in our community.
What’s going on Around Siouxland?
One of my favorite parts of my job as a news anchor is highlighting events and programs around the area. I am the biggest cheerleader for numerous organizations and love to attend and show my support. I am serving as a board member on several non-profits in this community and often I am the youngest voice on all of them. I love to bring a new perspective, idea, and way of thinking to something that has been around for a while. That’s where the Millennial mindset comes into play. This space will be the home to the perspective of a poor, busy, gal living and thriving through this crisis we call 20s but I like to do it with a bit of sparkle and spazz! I sure don’t know a lot about the 1920s other than my house was built sometime then (and it likes to show its age).
Here is one of my latest adventures to Getting’s Garden in Sanborn, Iowa.
Don’t have FOMO!
I hope you join me weekly with a cup of coffee in hand, talking about all the things that Northwest Iowa has to offer. Even though I’ve lived here a short 5 years, it has become one of my favorite treasures to tell people about. If you’re from North Carolina, Iowa, South Dakota, or any of our other states say “YES! Sign me up!” I thank you in advance for the support!
Welcome, Taylor, from this nearly-Sioux City native!
Welcome, Taylor! I'm excited to have another 1996 baby on the Collaborative!