← All contributors
Tina Macuha

Film, TV & video

Tina Macuha(she/her)

Anchor and Reporter; Good Day Sacramento · KMAX 31

Tina Macuha built a career in media that spans both radio and television, starting out on FM 102 before making the move to TV and eventually becoming one of the original anchors on Good Day Sacramento, where she spent close to three decades. Her journey shows that breaking into broadcasting is a process — one that can start in one corner of the industry and grow into something much bigger over time. If you're drawn to storytelling, journalism, or being on-air, Tina's path is a real example of what it looks like to put in the work and build a lasting presence in your community.

Their story

"Think about what makes you different, and use it." TV Personality Tina Machua

22 min

Watch the full story →

Watching requires a free Vitaes account.

Key quotes

“I believed them that I could not be on the radio. But deep down, there was that burning desire to talk, be in front of a microphone and be on the radio.”

Tina Macuha, Anchor and Reporter, Good Day Sacramento

“One job will lead to another, led to another, led to another. And I maintain that good reputation. So it's really good to have good reputation, good ethics. Work hard.”

Tina Macuha, Anchor and Reporter, Good Day Sacramento

“If they see your passion, they'll help you.”

Tina Macuha, Anchor and Reporter, Good Day Sacramento

“Think about your life, your personality, your experiences that you've been through, because that can culminate into something that's pretty fantastic if you can bridge it over to this type of medium.”

Tina Macuha, Anchor and Reporter, Good Day Sacramento

“I wanted to share it because I hopefully could help people through my journey. And I was overwhelmed with the response.”

Tina Macuha, Anchor and Reporter, Good Day Sacramento

Career highlights

Start as an intern — even if you feel totally unprepared.

Tina landed her first radio internship through a friend's connection and was terrified her first day, but she got a sound bite from Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis just by following one tip: 'put the microphone where everybody else does.' That one experience opened door after door.

Your reputation is your currency — guard it and keep building it.

Tina didn't get her TV job from a resume or a posting. She got it because a manager she'd impressed in radio recommended her by name. She says 'one job will lead to another, led to another, led to another' — and that's only possible if people trust your work ethic.

Don't limit yourself to being on-air — TV stations need everyone.

Tina lists photographers, editors, sales reps, HR staff, and engineers as people who are all essential to keeping a station running. If you love the world of media but hate the idea of being on camera, there's still a place for you.

Reach out to people in the industry — most will actually respond.

Tina says students message her on social media all the time asking to pick her brain, and she helps them. She advises being professional, keeping it simple, and not being afraid of silence — just try again. 'If they see your passion, they'll help you.'

Think about what makes you different, and use it.

Tina reflects that being Filipino and a woman helped her stand out when she was getting started. She encourages students to think about their own life experiences and personality — 'that can culminate into something pretty fantastic if you can bridge it over to this medium.'

Be willing to share your story — even the hard parts.

When Tina was diagnosed with breast cancer, she wasn't sure whether to go public. She did, and the response from viewers was overwhelming — women went to get mammograms for the first time because of her. Being vulnerable on-air isn't weakness. It's impact.

Student summary
Tina Macuha is an anchor and reporter on Good Day Sacramento, a morning news show in Northern California, and she's been doing it since 1995 — that's over 26 years on the same show. But before TV ever came knocking, she spent nearly two decades in radio, starting as an intern at a Sacramento station while she was still a student at Sac State. Her path wasn't planned — it was built one relationship, one opportunity, and one good reputation at a time. Growing up Filipino in a household where her dad passed away when she was seven, Tina describes being a quiet, shy kid who didn't feel like she fit in. She found her voice slowly — through sports, school elections, friendships across different groups — and by the time she hit college, she was unstoppable. While her friends and family laughed at her dream of being on the radio, she was literally recording herself on two turntables in her room, pretending she had her own station. That kind of stubborn, quiet passion is what eventually got her in the door. Tina's advice is real and practical: start small, go to smaller markets to learn the craft, treat every internship like it matters (because it does), and protect your reputation fiercely. She talks about what actually goes into a morning show — early 3 a.m. wake-ups, booking your own segments weeks in advance, writing story files so producers don't have to chase you down — and breaks down all the roles that exist in a TV station beyond being on-air, from photographers and editors to HR and engineering. What makes Tina's story especially meaningful for students of color is how honest she is about the tension of being a minority in media. She says being Filipino and a woman helped her get in the door — but she's also clear that the pay gap is real, and that once you're in, you have to keep growing to stay. She encourages students to lean into what makes them different, not away from it. Your background, your experiences, your community — those are assets on camera and off. If you're drawn to storytelling, journalism, or being on-air in any way, Tina's career is proof that the path doesn't have to be straight. It just has to be genuine. She started in a room talking into a microphone alone. She ended up anchoring one of Sacramento's longest-running morning shows for nearly three decades.