"I'd rather entertain and hope that people learn, than teach and hope that people are entertained." - Walt Disney
CAILLEY CHELLA
I've never been the kind of person who fits into a mold, or a label. I'm more interested in where I can make things go than where they're at. I'm an innovator, entrepreneur, and entertainer. To me, success means that ideas and information come alive in people's hearts and minds through interesting, friendly communication and vibrant, fun images. Check out some of the exciting stories and projects I’ve worked on, and feel free to get in touch with any questions or comments.
MY BIO
I was born with a natural curiosity and the knowledge that silence makes for a good listener. My want to know-it-all nature eventually inspired me to become a professional reporter in 2014. My passion and expertise is the intersection of politics and pop culture. Although based in Los Angeles, I often find myself on the road gathering facts and firsthand accounts in order to fairly and honestly amplify the voices that need to be heard.
All Videos
The End of the Redwood Swap Meet
Pregnancy Crisis Centers now funded with tax dollars in Utah
Politics on College Campuses [FULL EPISODE: Utah Insight S5E6]
RECENT STORIES
Evocative. Conscientious. Innovative.
Anchor Demo Reel
January 1, 2023
Cailley Chella is an Emmy-winning journalist with over 10 years of experience in broadcast journalism.
She's honed her skills as a producer for the National Emmy-winning show, VICE News, as well as a reporter for New Mexico PBS and PBS Utah and an anchor in Fargo, North Dakota.
Rooted in Secrets:
A Black History Month Special
February 26, 2022
*2023 Regional Emmy Award Winner*
Black History Month is so much more than a noun, a thing; it's a verb. In my case, it's a discovery. Marlys Boone was the first Black person to graduate from St. Olaf College. She descended from one of the first Black families to settle in Minnesota, and I, a white woman, descended from her. There's now an exhibit with my ancestors names in the African American Heritage Museum and Gallery and Black students at St. Olaf recognizing my grandmother with a house in her name.
PBS Utah:
Rafting Across the Political Divide
January 29, 2025
*Nominated for a 2025 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award*
Could something as simple as talking be the solution for America’s polarization problem, or are we up a creek without a paddle? Join Cailley Chella, PBS Utah’s politics reporter, on a trip down the Colorado River with “Reuniting America by Fostering Trust” or R.A.F.T. The non-profit brings people of varying political opinions together to work as a team while navigating difficult political conversations. According to Samantha Moore-Berg, Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of Utah, it can feel demoralizing or even dangerous to engage with those who disagree with us, inhibiting conversation across political divides. However, studies show that perception of the political divide is worse than the actual division. Engaging with others can be a powerful tool to overcome barriers and realize we might not be as different as we think.
PBS Utah:
The 'Free Palestine' Movement & Free Speech on College Campus
July 5, 2024
Historically, university and college campuses have been viewed as centers of free thought, free speech, and developing ideas — even political ideas. But recently, this idea has faced scrutiny. The Board of Higher Education passed a measure requiring state universities to create policies on free speech and the limitations of it. How will this impact Utah college students?
VICE News: Inside Idaho's Ban on Trans Women in Sports
August 18, 2020
*VICE News won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special*
House Bill 500, also known as the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, applies to student-athletes playing in K-12 sports and at the collegiate level, no matter if the university is public or private. The law would prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in school athletics in alignment with their gender identity.
PBS Utah: Explore the Life-cycle of a Vote-by-mail Ballot in Salt Lake County
November 29, 2024
*Nominated for a Rocky Mountain Emmy Award*
Voting is one of the most important elements of American democracy. With misinformation around elections growing across the U.S., it’s more important than ever to understand our voting system. So how does the vote by mail system work, and what are the effects of attacks on election systems and those who work within them? Join Cailley Chella, PBS Utah’s Politics Reporter, as she explores the life cycle of a vote-by-mail ballot in Salt Lake County, including verification of signatures, ballot inspections, and security measures. Take a tour of where mail-in ballots are processed, and the meticulous systems in place to make sure each vote is counted. Election denialism and increasing threats and misinformation that surrounds elections take a toll on everyone from the public to poll workers. Chella interviews Deidre Henderson, Utah’s Lieutenant Governor and Chief Election Officer, to learn how she’s countering misinformation while navigating threats and harassment herself.
VICE News: This California Family Watched Their Home Burn on Live TV
October 29, 2019
*VICE News won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special*
Firemen saved mementos and pictures off the walls. Then, a wedding ring.
Amy and David Lamon watched home burn, live on TV.
The couple had evacuated to a friend’s house as smoke from the Tick Fire encroached on their home in Santa Clarita, California on Friday, and watched their own home burned on the local news.
August 19, 2019
VICE News: These Activists Want People to Stop Calling the Cops
*VICE News won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special*
Police in Phoenix don't know how their relationship with the community got so bad. On a hot Friday night in a strip mall in West Phoenix, the activist group Poder in Action was holding a community event to promote collective safety. The group generally encourages the public to take better care of one another during times of crisis, but this time they had an even stronger message: Unless you absolutely have to, don’t call the cops.
