It’s been more than 60 years since Newton Minow, then chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, called television a “vast wasteland.”

For Angela Poffenbaugh, though, TV — especially TV news — was a beacon.

“I used to wake up every morning and watch ‘Good Morning America,’” she says. “I remember thinking it was incredible how big the world was, and I wanted to be part of telling that story.

“I just loved learning things I’d never have learned if I hadn’t watched the news.”

After five years reporting local news in Wisconsin and Chattanooga, Poffenbaugh joined The Company Lab (CO.LAB) 10 months ago as a communications manager. Tasia Malakasis, CEO at CO.LAB, says her experience with Poffenbaugh has nudged her towards an informal hiring policy.

“Because