Elizabeth Fields, 2007 Murray State University alumna, is the newest addition to the CBS Channel 4 Quad Cities news team in Rock Island, Ill. As a student at MSU, Fields anchored, reported and produced for MSU’s campus operated television station TV-11 and the weekly television series RoundAbout Murray.

Since February, Fields has been reporting for the Quad Cities. Originally from Belleville, Ill., she has recently reported on the flooding of the Rock River in northern Illinois with coverage of home evacuations. Fields was previously at KMOV Channel 4 in St. Louis.

Jeremy McKeel, MSU Department of Journalism lecturer and TV operations director, worked with Fields during her time at Murray State . “ Elizabeth was one of our most outstanding ‘go to’ students during her time at Murray State,” said McKeel. “She is a talented individual both in front of and behind the camera. That type of talent is hard to find. Elizabeth has a glowing personality and is guaranteed to succeed in the news business or any other endeavor she pursues.”

RoundAbout Murray , hosted by MSU vice president of institutional advancement Jim Carter, is produced by Shasta O’Neal. Fields served as assistant producer for the show as a student. O’Neal misses working with Fields and hopes to have the opportunity to work with her again in the future. “ Elizabeth started on the RoundAbout team just anchoring the local news segment of the show, and then worked her way up to assistant producer,” said O’Neal. “ Elizabeth is a very hard worker. She’s a person that does not let anything get in the way of reaching her goals, yet she is a people person. Elizabeth is dedicated, hard working, and talented and always greets you with a smile.”

In 2006, Fields co-hosted the live broadcast of MSU Night of the Murray Rotary Club Telethon, benefiting Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Habitat for Humanity that aired on Murray area cable channels. She generously offered her time and talents to interview university faculty, staff and students during the three hour program.

Fields credits her experience at MSU for her success in the news industry. “I can’t say enough good things about Murray State and how my experience there prepared me for my job in the Quad Cities,” says Fields. “Coming into a new station, I was nervous about being behind the other reporters, but I found out that I fit right in. My work with RoundAbout Murray and MSU TV-11 prepared me for everything involved in reporting, from brainstorming story ideas and lining up interviews to shooting footage, writing the story and finally presenting it on-air. Now I have seen how other first-time reporters struggle if they don’t have hands-on experience. I’m thankful for everything and everyone I worked with in the MSU studios.”