James Phillips
Award-Winning Multimedia Reporter
I’m a multimedia reporter and newsroom leader with hands-on experience in audio, broadcast and digital news production. I’m passionate in breaking down the biggest issues in public policy and the environment - and exploring how they impact our communities.
KXAN - State of Texas Show
The University Star
Currently, I serve as an intern on the State of Texas news team at KXAN in Austin. In this role, I help complement broadcast coverage of statewide political issues by contributing digital articles, research and fact-checking. In addition to shadowing and learning from some of the best journalists in the Austin area, I also play a direct role in producing content for broadcast and social media.
The University Star has been my home since 2022 and the place where some of my strongest reporting has developed. I’ve covered public policy, environmental issues, community safety and local justice across print, broadcast and audio. I’ve also stepped into leadership roles across the newsroom. I'm proud to have brought audio and video to life at The Star with my dual roles as Assistant Director of TV News and Podcast Producer. I oversee a team of over 20 people working together to create a full-length broadcast local news show.
Experience
Community Impact
In Fall 2026, I worked as a freelance reporter for Community Impact covering the Kyle City Council and broader municipal public policy developments in the region. In this role, I was responsible for producing at least two articles per council meeting, in addition to contributing multimedia work.
FedNet TV & The Fund for
American Studies
In Summer 2025, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to live and work in Washington, D.C. as part of the TFAS program. I worked full time on Capitol Hill with FedNet TV, where I was responsible for filming and producing transcripts for congressional hearings and press conferences.
AWARDS
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Third Place Best General News Video - Texas Intercollegiate Press Association - Mar 2026
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Undergraduate Multimedia Research Fellow - TXST Honors College — Feb 2026
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Multimedia Reporter of the Month - The University Star — Nov 2025, Dec 2025
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TFAS Journalism & Communications Scholar,
The Fund for American Studies — Summer 2025 -
Columnist of the Year, The University Star — 2024
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Reporter of the Month, The University Star — March 2024, Nov 2024