Unveiling the Storyteller: Catherine Anaya’s Impact in Arizona Journalism

Catherine Anaya, a prominent figure in Arizona’s media landscape, embodies excellence and authenticity in her career spanning over two decades. From her Emmy-winning journey in television journalism to her current hosting duties at Arizona PBS’ “Horizonte,” Anaya has cemented herself as a respected voice in the industry.

“Horizonte” covers current events through a Hispanic lens, and as the current host, Anaya expresses gratitude for the community’s support and acknowledges the legacy left by her predecessor, José Cardenas. “I’m thoroughly enjoying it, I’m having such a great time,” she said. “The community has just been so supportive… José really set the stage for putting the show on the map.”

Catherine’s storytelling expertise and interviewing abilities have earned her acclaim. And though she’s spoken to the likes of former president Barack Obama and legendary actress Rita Moreno, she admits it’s the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things that resonate with her the most.

“Those are my favorite interviews,” she reveals, “there are so many people in this community who are out there doing the work… trying to make our community a better place for everybody. That’s one of the things that I love the most about the power of television, is that you do get to share these stories with other people.”

Catherine was recently a guest on Arizona Barrio Stories, a project which you can follow via Facebook and LinkedIn, dedicated to recording Chicano/Mexican history. “They do a phenomenal job. There’s a lot of history in our community… so I love that you have these pillars in our community being interviewed about their contribution to our community,” she explains, “it was nice to be embraced like that, in the community because I have not been doing traditional news now for almost nine years.”

But beyond her professional endeavors, Anaya is a devoted mother of two and an advocate for fitness and wellness. From her marathon days to her newfound passion for yoga, she emphasizes the importance of respecting one’s body and finding balance in life.

“It taught me respect for my body. It taught me discipline. It taught me that I can juggle more than one thing at once,” she said.

Anaya is also an avid traveler and a self-proclaimed bookworm. “I do love to read. I only read 25 books last year, but I read [approximately] 40 the year before.” Some of her picks for must-reads lately include the memoirs of Barbra Streisand, Rita Moreno, and Matthew Perry.

She finds joy in exploring new destinations and occasionally, indulges in her favorite guilty pleasure – the carnitas nachos from Habaneros Mexican Grill & Cantina, which are topped with black beans, carnitas, light cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and jalapeños. “You have to have Habaneros. When the plate comes out with these nachos, there is no way you would think that I would ever clean that plate. And I do every single time (laughs). I can’t help it.”

As she continues to make her mark in the media landscape and beyond, Catherine Anaya remains an inspiring figure, celebrated for her unwavering authenticity, passion for storytelling, and dedication to community engagement.

You can watch Catherine Anaya hosting “Horizonte” Saturday evenings at 6 p.m., or you can stream live at azpbs.org/horizonte

Or you can connect with her at www.catherineanaya.com