By: Tyreanna Causey
MONTGOMERY, Ala.— For 23 years, Sally Pitts has worked for WSFA-12 News, where she reported and anchored for the state of Alabama, bringing viewers breaking news and heartfelt stories to watch. When she’s not in the studio, she’s playing tennis, running or spending time with her family or taking her daughters to soccer practice.
Sally Pitts found a love for journalism at the age of four when she would watch the news. “I remember having a book report due and asking my professor if I could record my book report like a reporter with my dad’s new news recorder and that was my first taste of being a reporter,” she said. People constantly told Pitts the field was hard and she would never make enough money so she placed that dream on hold and instead went into accounting at Auburn University. In her junior year, she switched her major to journalism to achieve her dreams. According to a 2025 study by the Student Research Group, 80% of college students change their major at least once. Pitts knew at a young age what she wanted to do but was discouraged because of other people’s comments. She took a leap toward her dream and never regretted it.
When asked what the most rewarding part about her job was she said, “Telling their stories, putting a smile on their face, and helping them in times of need.” From covering events to storms, she said she was making an impact in people’s lives by informing and sharing stories that needed to be heard. According to the Indeed Career Guide article from 2025 called How to Become a TV News Anchor, news anchors work long and unpredictable hours. Pitts loves her job and used to find herself spending lots of time working, so she worked on balancing her work life and home life. “I’m very blessed because I’ve been at the same station for 23 years and have some flexibility and can take time off to do things with my family.”
In response to how she prepares to go on air, she said, “I don’t have any rituals or habits. After doing it for 20 plus years, I feel a lot more confident to just go on air. Before, I would read scripts over and over again, but now I talk to my coworkers as I get ready.” Memorable moments come in all shapes and sizes. Pitts shared she has accumulated many memorable moments working at WSFA. One good memory she shared was standing on the football field when Auburn won the national championship. “I’m a huge fan of Auburn, so being able to be standing where my favorite team won was truly amazing.”
But not all memories are good memories. Pitts recalled interviewing mothers who lost their children, specifically to tornadoes. The National Library of Medicine article from 2022 called The power of negative and positive episodic memories, reported that negative memories can be powerful because when needed, your mind will prioritize recalling that information as a defense mechanism. Despite being upsetting memories, she described those moments as impactful and wanted to protect her children at all costs. “Those moments stick with you and it has inspired me to be a good mom and want to protect my children.”
Another challenge Pitts faces is the evolving form of artificial intelligence. In 2023, Sports Illustrated magazine was accused of having AI-written stories and fake authors, according to Cable News Network. As AI continues to evolve, so could its value for a company, who could simply use this tool to write an entire article or story. By 2035, Pew Research Center reports about 30% of media jobs will be automated by AI. Pitts said, “WSFA uses AI, but it is very limited. We can have long interviews, and AI can display a transcript and summarize it back to us, so it saves time. People talk about how one day ChatGPT might be writing scripts. A lot of people use it to write scripts, but WSFA doesn’t allow it. And I, personally, don’t use it.”
Despite millions of dollars being invested into AI, like Nvidia, according to NBC News, who is investing $100 billion in OpenAI along with other investors, many people, including Pitts, do not think AI can and should take over the news. Pitts said, “The human element has such a huge part in writing that AI will never fully be able to convey like a human can.” Pitts was asked how she stays objective, and she responded, “It’s my job to stay neutral. And especially in times like these when things are so divisive. I really look at the script to make sure it is neutral and not biased, especially when getting it from other sources. We need to state just the facts.”
Next, Pitts was asked if she could go back in time and talk to her college freshman self, what piece of advice would she give? She said, “Believe in yourself. Believe that everything will turn out great. Make the most of every moment and be confident in who you are and recognize your gift.” The final question was what advice would she give to a current college student interested in journalism? Pitts quickly answered as if she had this answer waiting for a long time, “Learn everything you can. If you know a little bit about everything, then you’ll be more well rounded. If an opportunity pops up and it can put you on that path, then take it. When you intern, be engaged and willing to learn.”
Pitts has been a part of the news industry for about 23 years and has learned a lot about herself, the industry, and the evolving world around us. Despite the constant circling of news, she still found time to be with her family and take time for herself. When asked to take a picture, she was more than willing to do it. As a Chilton County native, her positive attitude and infectious smile have been traits of hers that she has carried since she was a child. Even as AI is becoming more prominent, Pitts is choosing to stay true to herself and state the facts. Pitts said, “I have been a part of this industry for a while now and to this day, I still love what I do.”
