AMANDA MASON IS a communications strategist, A Former NEWS ANCHOR, PRODUCER, AND AWARD-WINNING MMJ/REPORTER. SHE IS A NATIVE TEXAN AND A NEW YORKER AT HEART. SHE HAS A PASSION FOR SERVING HER COMMUNITY ON AND OFF THE AIR.  

CAREER

Amanda Mason became the new Communications and Public Affairs Manager at the Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) in the Spring of 2023. She is tasked with developing a new communications department, maintaining media relations, coaching SMEs (Subject Matter Experts), creating a social media strategy, developing current outreach campaigns, and constructing an internal and external communications structure at BFHD, to name a few.

Prior to joining the BFHD family, she was the main morning anchor, producer, forecaster and reporter at KAPP-KVEW Local News in Kennewick, WA.

Before moving to the Tri-Cities, Amanda was the main morning anchor, multimedia journalist/reporter, and producer at ABC Big 2 and Fox 24 (KMID/KPEJ), a duopoly station in Midland/Odessa, Texas. She co-anchored Good Morning Basin from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and was the solo anchor and producer for ABC Big 2 First News at 11:30. She has also solo anchored Fox 24 News A.M Live from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for five solid months. During those months amid the pandemic, from January to May 2020, Amanda solo anchored all morning newscasts while producing the mid-morning show, totaling three and half hours on air a day. 

During her time at Big 2 News, she transformed the 11:30 a.m. mid-morning newscast into a lifestyle show, with special segments, including her enterprise ABC Big 2 Cares for You. Through her enterprise, she highlighted local nonprofits and community leaders monthly who are making a difference.

Amanda is passionate about her community and has continued to volunteer in the Midland/Odessa area. In April 2021, she received the prestigious Community Advocate Award from the United Way of Midland for her efforts adapting during the pandemic and producing a virtual fundraiser for United Way. She has performed the National Anthem for multiple veteran events, including the Marine Corps Ball in Midland. She continued to represent her station and has emceed at the 'Walk to End Alzheimer’s,' 'March of Dimes' Luncheon, and United Way of Midland's virtual fundraiser 'Power of the Purse.' She has presented a 'Media Crash Course' for Junior League members and small businesses in her community. Amanda has also been a speaker at 'Career Day' for students in-person and virtually. 

As an active member of the Junior League of Midland (JLM), she was a mentor for ''Face the Race' an after-school program for middle school girls in Midland and in her second year in TX served as the Asst. Editor-in-Chief of the 'Tumbleweed' magazine. She focused on articles about mental health awareness amid the pandemic. In February 2020, Amanda was awarded the GEM Award by JLM for her service and leadership within the League. In honor of the award, JLM made a donation to their scholarship program in her name.  

JOURNALISM

Amanda started her journalism career as a graduate student at ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. In August 2018, she graduated Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.9) with a Master's in Mass Communications for broadcast journalism. 

In Arizona, during the summer of 2018, she was an anchor, MMJ, and weather anchor for Cronkite News on Arizona PBS, reaching 1.9 million homes across Arizona State. Her piece "Solar Sheep" about a local solar farm was featured nationally on PBS New Hour. 

During her time at Cronkite News, she received four Wally Awards. Those awards were given out during newsroom meetings when a journalist has gone above and beyond their work. She received one for hard work as an MMJ, two for teamwork skills, and one was given by a colleague for her continuous support, guidance, and encouragement.

That same year in the Spring, she worked as an intern for Arizona's Family: 3TV and CBS 5 (KTVK/KPHO), a duopoly newsroom. Amanda created a brand strategy for the station's Instagram and presented it to the marketing department. She also covered spot and breaking news on the station's Twitter, Instagram and hosted live Facebook videos for Good Morning Arizona while being a full-time student. On social media she covered the Phoenix Open, Arizona Diamondbacks, Red for Ed Rally, March for Our Lives Protest and other station fundraising events. On the weekends, she shadowed reporters and helped photographers develop stories by facilitating interviews and writing VO/SOTs.

After her internship at Arizona's Family, she traveled to Puerto Rico for an in-depth reporting assignment documenting the recovery efforts six months after Hurricane Maria. She was there for an entire week, traveling around the island for interviews and even in the mountains hiking through the mud. In September 2018, Amanda won a Student Production Award (Short From Non-Fiction) from the Rocky Mountain Emmys for her work, covering the devastation in Puerto Rico six months after Hurricane Maria.

After graduation, she joined the news team at 23 ABC (KERO) as a multimedia journalist/reporter in Bakersfield, CA. Shortly after beginning her contract, she was promoted to the weekend weather anchor and filled in for all shifts as an MMJ and weather anchor. In May of 2019, she moved to Texas.

MONSTER JAM

In August 2017, Amanda finished her tour as Live/On-Camera Host for Monster Jam: Triple Threat East Coast Tour (Feld Entertainment), where she performed in 45 Live Shows and 23 Private Pit Parties in 15 different cities. As an ambassador for Monster Jam, she worked with local media and appeared on ABC Morning New 16 (Wilkes-Barre), ABC 8 Eyewitness News (Charleston), and ABC News 13 (Charleston).

MUSICAL THEATER

Amanda is well-rounded with an extensive background in musical theater and opera and has more than 15 years of experience as a performer. 

She has performed at Carnegie Hall, NYC Marathon, United Nations Headquarters, in Las Vegas, and Off-Broadway shows all around NYC.

In 2011, Amanda made her Las Vegas debut performing in the Canyon Club Theater in America's Sound: Rock & Roll to Motown show with Las Vegas Headliner and Coasters member, Early Clover. In that show, she expanded her range and performed a variety of genres: Motown, disco, and opera. 

Amanda also performed as a featured soloist at the NYC Marathon, Society for Private Investigators Annual Gala, MDA NFL Gala, National Foundation for Women Legislature annual meetings, and several other events and fundraisers. She was also honored to perform at the opening ceremony for the Youth For Human Rights International Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in NYC. 

In the Summer of 2016, Amanda was nominated for Planet Connections NYC Festival's "Outstanding Lead Actress in A Musical or Play with Music" Award for her role in the new Off-Off-Broadway musical The Golden Smile. 

While in high school, she was also a gold medalist in the Industry Awards at the World Championships of Performing Arts for her dedication and accomplishments in the performing arts. 

She has also performed the National Anthem for the NYC Half Marathon, NY Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn Cyclones, and Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Amanda has studied musical theater, voice, dance, and acting at Circle in the Square Summer Intensive, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Actors Connection, Stagedoor Manor, New York Film Academy, and the CA School of Cinema and Performing Arts. 

OPERA

On April 14, 2013, Amanda made her debut at Carnegie Hall, singing in the Spring Concert Festival.

Amanda holds a Master in Music ('15) and Bachelor in Music ('12) Degree, focusing on classical vocal performance, from the internationally renowned conservatory, Manhattan School of Music. 

She has also studied and performed opera in Italy and was the youngest artist accepted into the Corso d'Opera program in Montepulciano, Italy ('12) and Opera Viva in Verona, Italy ('10). 

Over the years, she has had the honor of working with Maestro Bruno Bartoletti, world-renowned conductor; Tito Capobianco noted stage director; Catherine Malfitano, famous Soprano; Mignon Dunn, famous Mezzo-soprano; and June Anderson, Grammy-winning Coloratura Soprano, to name a few.

She has been seen performing in scenes as Countess Mariza in Grafin Mariza, Arabella in Arabella, Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Lucy in Hotel Casablanca, Musetta in La Bohème, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, Giuditta in Giuditta, Mimi in La Bohème, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi and Despina in Così Fan Tutte.

MISS NEW YORK 2013

On September 15, 2013, Amanda assumed the prestigious title of Miss New York 2013 following the crowning of Miss America. As a professional motivational speaker, she traveled across the state of New York from Manhattan to the Bronx to upstate New York, continuing her efforts to Reach Youth Before Alcohol & Drugs Do through her youth prevention program the Middle School Movement. 

In May 2014, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed off on a statewide prevention campaign in partnership with Amanda and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

Amanda has served as a National Ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Youth Spokesperson for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), and the Safe American Foundation. 

As Miss New York, Amanda appeared on PBS Graduate Day (NYC), The Today Show (NBC NYC), Brooklyn News 12, NewsChannel 9 (Syracuse), NY1, and News 13 (Albany). 

YOUTH ADVOCATE

Amanda has been volunteering her entire life and loves being involved in her community. She started as a young child volunteering with her mother in nursing homes. She spent time with the residents, who she claimed as her adoptive grandparents. Amanda learned the importance of giving back and respecting our seniors by spending time with them during bingo, karaoke, ice-cream socials, and holiday parties.

As a teenager, in 2005, Amanda was honored to receive the Key to the City of Kenner, Louisiana, for her “Katrina Backpack” campaign that helped those affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

Her public speaking journey started with the National Foundation for Women Legislatures (NFWL), and on behalf of their organization 14-years-old, she addressed the Florida House of Representatives. She was co-chair for a children’s literacy program, Making Reading a Reality, with Florida Representative Faye Culp who was the former president of the NFWL. At the following NFWL Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Amanda had the opportunity to speak about the problems facing teens at the premiere of the movie “Chumscrubbers.” The film features Glenn Close and Rita Hanks, delivering a message about the dangers of teens abusing prescription drugs. At that moment, Amanda realized that prescription drug abuse was a widespread problem that went beyond her high school, which was nicknamed "The Pharmacy.”

“I remember during my freshman year of high school, some of my classmates were caught drinking on campus. The school only gave them two weeks of in-school suspension. Another one of my classmates was rushed to the emergency room after abusing cough medicine to lose weight for the wrestling team. When I reached out to teachers, they seemed afraid to get involved. It was time to make a change. I felt like my school's lack of education was similar to putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm, but this was a battle between life or death. I was not going to back down.” -Amanda Mason

Statistics show that alcohol and drug use skyrockets in middle school, so she decided to use her voice and bridge the gap in prevention education by creating the Middle School Movement. 

To be better equipped to handle questions and teach prevention, she trained in the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) program, where she studied substance abuse, addiction, and prevention.  

For the past 16 years, she has continued to focus her efforts on Reaching Youth Before Alcohol & Drugs Do through her prevention program, The Middle School Movement. As a professional speaker she has reached thousands of teachers, students, and parents through her program. 

On June 4, 2015, Amanda was honored to receive one of Drug-Free World Foundation's highest awards, Drug-Free Ambassador. 

RECORDING ARTIST

By age 17, she had recorded over 30 original pop songs, released two CDs, and one Single with multi-platinum producer Roy “Royalty” Hamilton recording in Los Angles, Hollywood, and Burbank, CA. In 2010, she recorded an R&B pop song One Day At A Time with a multi-platinum producer, Joshua P. Thompson who has worked with outstanding artists like Aretha Franklin. Her CDs and Singles can be found on iTunes: Notice Me, Euphoria, and Lose My Number. 

MODEL

As a model, Amanda was featured on the cover of Shang Mag, a Chinese luxury magazine with an 18-page fashion spread modeling around $3 million worth of De Beers jewelry. She also appeared on the runway in Georgette’s Holiday Fashion Shows in Florida, Fox & Friends in NYC and was a brand ambassdor for the Pink and Pepper shoe line.

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