Teacher Talk: Najla Amundson
Najla Gazhi Amundson is a woman who wears many hats.
As a professional journalist, professor, grad student, mother and wife, Amundson maintains an extremely busy schedule.
While working as an established news producer and anchor on WDAY for three years, she touched the lives of many when her charismatic ways and side-splitting sense of humor hit the screen.
The foundation of Amundson’s success began when she became a weekend news reporter for KBRK Radio in Brookings, S.D. at the age of 22.
Although she enjoyed KBRK, Amundson soon accepted a job offer in Grand Forks, N.D. working for WDAZ as a general assignment reporter/photographer.
“ I worked there for about two years and the whole job from start to finish was performed by one person; it’s called a “one man band,” she said.
Amundson said she also worked as an account executive for Simmons Advertising, in the Public Relations Department at Minnkota Power, and as an anchorwoman for ABC-Affiliated WDAY.
Amundson said she loved the challenge of the industry as a new anchor.
“ You’re not always sure where you’re going to go or what you’re going to cover,” Amundson said. “For people like me, who love to do new things, it’s really a perfect job. Every once in awhile I’ll miss it, but I’m really enjoying the classes I’m teaching right now.”.
A combination of compassion, flexibility and determination is what Amundson said is needed for students to produce their best work.
The most crucial piece of advice Amundson has to offer students in the field of broadcasting is to become an excellent writer.
Amundson said one should “write, write and write. Writing is the most important thing you can do. If you’re an excellent writer, you can always find a job.”
Amundson has evidence to back that statement up.
She has a vast number of works that have been published. Amundson also received the Outstanding Arab-American of the Year Award.
Amundson said her writing experience started at her high school newspaper and continued as a reporter for her college newspaper.
She was also crowned Miss South Dakota by the Miss America Pageant Organization at the age of 19 and was a judge for more than 10 local North Dakota pageants following her coronation.
After graduating from SDSU and Northwestern University in the Medill School of Journalism, Amundson decided to attend NDSU and is currently a doctoral student.
Amundson said working as a professor here at NDSU, taking classes as a grad student, taking care of her four boys and spending time with her husband (whom she met while working at WDAZ) are all important parts of her life.
“ I am a strong believer in believing in being open to different cultures, opinions, races etc … I grew up in a family that’s not a typical American family,” Amundson said. “There are never two sides to a story. Respecting everyone’s opinions, beliefs and cultures is important.”
As a result of her professional experiences, Amundson has an abundant amount of knowledge about the world of journalism and broadcasting, and has tried to make an impact on the lives of many.