Chenue Her: Inspiring Journey of the Groundbreaking Hmong-American TV Anchor
Chenue Her grew up in St. Paul and has become a respected figure in American television journalism. His award-winning career centers on storytelling, representation, and serving his community.
Chenue Her is an American TV journalist and news anchor, recognized for his work at FOX 9 in Minnesota and for breaking new ground in Hmong-American media. He grew up in St. Paul and spent years working in journalism across the country before coming back home. His career has taken him to Oregon, Virginia, Atlanta, Des Moines, and finally back to the Twin Cities.
Her gained national attention in 2021 when he joined Good Morning Iowa at WOI, becoming the first Hmong man to anchor mainstream TV news in the United States. He has also covered breaking news, politics, severe weather, community stories, and has won awards for his reporting.
Today, more people are searching for Chenue Her and FOX 9, showing interest in his career, background, Hmong heritage, education, achievements, and his impact on representation in American TV news.
Who Is Chenue Her?
Chenue Her is an American journalist, TV reporter, and morning news anchor who built his career through years of local and regional reporting. He grew up on St. Paul’s east side in a large Hmong family, where storytelling was important because it is a key part of Hmong culture.
Local TV news was a regular part of his home life. His parents often watched the news, which sparked his interest in broadcast journalism. That early curiosity later became his career.
Returning to Minnesota was special for him because he joined the same TV newsroom he watched as a child.
Chenue Her’s Education and Early Interest in Journalism
Her went to the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, where he prepared for a career that would take him to several major TV markets in the U.S.
After college, he left Minnesota in 2013 and moved to Eugene, Oregon, for his first reporting job.
Beginning His Career at KEZI in Oregon
Her began his TV news career at KEZI in Eugene, Oregon. Like many new journalists, he learned the practical skills needed for reporting in his first newsroom job.
Being a reporter involves much more than being on camera. Local TV journalists research stories, do interviews, write scripts, work with photographers, check facts, and report live under tight deadlines.
His time in Oregon gave him a foundation for working in larger, more challenging news markets later on.
Reporting Career in Virginia
After Oregon, Chenue Her moved east to join WVEC in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area.
While in Virginia, he covered major breaking news and severe weather. One important story he reported on was the 2019 Virginia Beach Municipal Center mass shooting, which became national news.
Her also reported on hurricanes and gained experience covering state and local politics.
Building Experience Through Breaking News
Covering breaking news is one of the toughest parts of broadcast journalism. Reporters have to share updates quickly, avoid jumping to conclusions, and keep viewers informed as things change.
Her’s experience in Virginia made him a stronger reporter and helped prepare him to cover national stories in Atlanta.
Chenue Her’s Journalism Career in Atlanta
Her later joined WXIA, an NBC-affiliated TV station in Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta was another key step in his career. He reported during a busy time that included the 2020 presidential election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 Atlanta-area spa shootings.
At the start of the COVID-19 crisis in Georgia, Her was at Governor Brian Kemp’s office when the first case was confirmed. He gave live coverage soon after.
These assignments showed he could cover stories that mattered both locally and nationally.
Making History at Good Morning Iowa
A key moment in Chenue Her’s career came in 2021 when he joined WOI Local 5 in Des Moines, Iowa, as an anchor for Good Morning Iowa.
First Hmong Male News Anchor in the United States
His new role was more than just a career step. Her became known as the first Hmong man to anchor mainstream TV news in America.
For Hmong-American viewers, this milestone meant more visibility in an industry where their community has often been underrepresented.
She has talked about why representation matters and how important it is for young people to see journalists who share their backgrounds.
Why Chenue Her’s Achievement Matters
Representation in TV journalism is about more than who sits at the anchor desk. Journalists from different backgrounds bring new perspectives, community knowledge, sources, and story ideas that might otherwise be missed.
Her’s achievement was both a big step in his career and an important moment for Hmong representation in American media.
Awards and Professional Recognition
Chenue Her’s work in journalism has earned him several professional awards.
He won a Midwest Regional Emmy Award for his reporting and was also nominated for a regional Emmy as an anchor. While in Iowa, his reporting was recognized by the Iowa Broadcast News Association.
In 2022, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) gave Her its National Community Impact Award.
In 2024, CITYVIEW readers in Des Moines chose him as Best Local TV Anchor.
These awards show that his career is about more than just being the first Hmong male TV news anchor.
Chenue Her at FOX 9
After about three years as an anchor in Des Moines, Her returned to Minnesota and joined FOX 9 Morning News.
For Her, who grew up in St. Paul, joining FOX 9 was both a homecoming and a big career move. He had watched the station and its morning shows as a child, so the job was personally meaningful.
As a FOX 9 anchor, Her now reports and presents news for people in the Twin Cities and nearby Minnesota communities.
Returning Home to Minnesota
Coming back to Minnesota brought his career closer to the community that shaped him. His parents had watched FOX 9 for years, making his return even more meaningful.
His path from watching local TV news as a child to anchoring it as an adult shows how a long-term goal can grow through years of experience in different places.
Hmong Heritage and Community Representation
Her has stayed connected to his Hmong heritage throughout his journalism career. He is the son of Hmong refugees and has shared how his family passed down stories from older generations by word of mouth.
He has also been active in the Asian American Journalists Association, working to support more representation in journalism.
In addition to his daily work on TV, he has participated in community events and supported young people interested in news and journalism.
Conclusion
Strong reporting, major news coverage, professional awards, and a historic achievement for Hmong Americans mark Chenue Her’s career. From his first job in Eugene to his work in Virginia, Atlanta, Iowa, and back home at FOX 9 in Minnesota, each step has helped him grow as a TV journalist.
Being the first Hmong man to anchor mainstream TV news in the U.S. is a big part of his story, but his career also shows years of newsroom experience and a focus on community journalism.
As he continues his work at FOX 9, Chenue Her is an important figure in American local TV and a clear example of growing representation in broadcast journalism.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chenue Her
Who is Chenue Her?
Chenue Her is an American television journalist and news anchor from St. Paul, Minnesota. He currently works with FOX 9 Morning News and has previously worked in Des Moines, Atlanta, Virginia, and Oregon.
What is Chenue Her known for?
He is particularly known as the first Hmong man to anchor mainstream television news in the United States when he joined Good Morning Iowa at WOI in 2021.
Where does Chenue Her work now?
Chenue Her anchors FOX 9 Morning News in Minnesota.
Where did Chenue Her go to college?
He attended the University of Northwestern – St. Paul in Minnesota before beginning his professional television journalism career.
Has Chenue Her won any journalism awards?
Yes. His work has received a Midwest Regional Emmy Award, recognition from the Iowa Broadcast News Association, and the Asian American Journalists Association’s National Community Impact Award. His anchoring has also received regional Emmy recognition.
