South Texas native Laurie Salazar is a reporter for News 4 WOAI. She is an 8th generation Texan on her dad’s side of the family and a 5th generation on her mom’s side. Laurie, who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, is proud to be fluent in Spanish. She graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American with a BA in Communications, a specialization in broadcast journalism and a minor in Art with a focus in art history.
Laurie was bit by the news bug at an early age while competing in beauty pageants. The combination of public speaking, keeping up with current events for pageant interviews, and volunteering her time at community events as a pageant winner was the right combination for Laurie to transition into pursuing a career as a broadcast journalist.
Laurie started her broadcasting career as a morning and noon news anchor for KVTV, the CBS affiliate in Laredo. Within months she became the 6 & 10 p.m. weekday evening anchor. Laurie also hosted a Sunday community show, “Laredo Life.”
She later worked in Corpus Christi at KRIS, the NBC Affiliate where she served as the weekday 5 p.m. news anchor while simultaneously anchoring the weekday 9 p.m. newscast for KDF-FOX. It’s at KRIS where Laurie developed a passion for being the voice for foster children. She produced and reported the weekday segment “6 Kids” featuring the stories of children in need of adoption. She was recognized on a local and state level by the Texas Foster Parents Association for her efforts. That same year she was selected by the American GI Forum Coastal Bend Chapter as the Women of the Year for her contributions in the media.
Laurie spent the majority of her career as a weekday news anchor in the Rio Grande Valley where anchored the number one morning newscast, and a one hour noon newscast for KRGV, the ABC affiliate. She also hosted a weekly Sunday show, “Eyewitness Journal” and later “Inside the Valley.” During her time at KRGV, Laurie was selected by the community for the Reader’s Choice Award for Best Television Personality. She was also awarded the State Silver Apple Award from the Texas Classroom Teachers Association for her dedication to education.
While in the Valley, at one point Laurie served as the weekday evening news anchor for the start up station of XH-FOX, as the morning and noon anchor for KGBT, the CBS affiliate, as well as hosting a cooking show on the McAllen Cable Network.
Upon getting married in 2009, Laurie moved to San Antonio and spent a year serving as the Marketing Director of Saks Fifth Avenue. High end fashion and the glamour was fun, but Laurie decided to return to her TV roots where she now enjoys being the voice for those who need it and reporting on the issues that are important to the people of South Texas and the Hill Country.
Laurie enjoys traveling with her husband Steven, spending time with their two cats Clovis and Bella, cooking, reading, yoga, and continuing her love for pageants by serving as a judge and consultant whenever possible. Laurie enjoys serving her community as a long standing member of Junior League. She enjoys meeting people in her adopted hometown of San Antonio.
She is most passionate being the voice for those who need it and making a difference in their lives. If you have a story you would like to share with Laurie email her at
LaurieSalazar@woaitv.com.
