From Facebook Live to a TV station owner: the story of April Ross

April Ross sparked her career in the media space when she utilized her cell phone and Facebook Live. It all happened when she started Bee-TV in 2017 when a deputy sheriff was shot dead and she noticed that there was no reporter at the scene.

At the time, she was in the LaGrange area transitioning from being a reporter with Columbus, CBS affiliate WRBL News-3 to pursuing private business ventures in 2017. Today, Ross is the proud owner of the WJCN TV-33, a local television station based in LaGrange, Georgia where she started as an intern during her days at Alabama State University (ASU).

“My news reporter instincts took over and in the absence of any TV news outlets here to report on it, I covered it on Facebook Live, which helped my social media presence to grow in excess of 15,000 followers. This was the catalyst for Bee-TV and ultimately contributed to my purchase of WJCN TV-33,” Ross told ASU.

The instant hit of her Facebook Live motivated Ross to pursue a business venture in media. She wanted to deliver breaking news stories on her own television station instead of using social media. In May 2021 when WJCN was offered for sale, Ross did not hesitate to purchase it.

The station broadcasts to more than 600,000 households in 11 counties in both West Georgia and East Alabama. “What is ironic is when I was a student at Alabama State University, I actually interned at WJCN, and now, I own it,” Ross said.

An HBCU graduate, Ross completed the Alabama State University where she majored in communications. After graduating in 2001, she started working as a production assistant and later transitioned to become a reporter.

Ross said she wants to position a TV station to become a major network affiliate in the area. According to her, she wants to create something that has never occurred in the television market and also produce content that suits the needs of the community.

“I want to create something in this television market that has never occurred before and that includes creating and producing great local programming for our community that’s full of home-area content; to use this platform to provide our residents with what best suits their community needs, tastes, standards, and interests, and do it while hiring and honing local talent into our TV on-air personalities,” Ross added.

A devout Christian, Ross credits God for her success. She also praises her former school, Alabama State University, and the long-serving anchor of Columbus’ WRBL TV-3 for contributing to her growth in the media industry.

“I give God the ultimate credit for any and everything in my life. Period. And aiding his plan for me has been Alabama State University and CBS-3’s Teresa Whitaker,” said Ross.