Celebrating Lori Hinz: BEK TV’s 'Best TV Personality' and Voice of Authenticity
Lori's journey in broadcasting began at age 16 when she walked into a Minnesota radio station and quickly found herself delivering live news updates. For more than four decades, Lori was a familiar voice on North Dakota airwaves, known to many as Lauren Gray. But besides radio, Lori also has hosted the Noon Show on KXMB TV and did weekend weather on KFYR TV.
In 2019, Lori was approached by BEK TV to work part-time with the cast of “Ladies of Another View.” But BEK CEO, Derrick Bulawa, believed she had the potential to lead her own show, so she was paired with Rick Becker, and together, they hosted “No Apologies with Becker.” Just a couple years later, Lori left radio to work exclusively for BEK TV. Today, Lori is a host and Production Development Lead for the network.
Reflecting on her journey, Lori notes the stark difference between her experiences at BEK TV and those in her previous roles. Having once worked for a large media corporation during her radio career, Lori experienced firsthand the stifling effects of corporate-driven content that prioritized financials over genuine connection with an audience. At BEK TV, however, Lori says the vision is entirely different. Here, she says hosts are encouraged to freely express their opinions while reporting facts, a model she says stands out in today's television landscape.
Lori credits her family for shaping her broadcasting career. Lori regularly heard her pastor father preach to, counsel, and teach others. At a young age, Lori understood what you said and how you say it could influence and affect others. Lori and her three brothers were raised in a home that instilled a strong moral compass in each of them. This foundation has been crucial in her ability to report the hard truths, guided by her faith and an unwavering sense of right and wrong.
Lori has made significant contributions to BEK TV. She’s hosted important BEK Special Reports like “China Conquest: Inside Job” and “Capturing America’s Heartland: CO2 Pipeline.” She’s appeared on multiple BEK programs to discuss a variety of issues, some of them relating to her position as RNC National Committeewoman for North Dakota. Lori also has coordinated the network’s debate with the North Dakota Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in 2022 in addition to the pre-primary debate with the North Dakota candidates for U.S. House and North Dakota Governor earlier this year. Lori also hosts her own program, “Made Local.”
Looking ahead, Lori is eager to continue working with her colleagues to investigate and present various topics and issues concerning all of us yet getting little media coverage. She says what BEK TV is doing is deeply personal to her because she has the same cares and concerns about the issues affecting our communities that the viewers and the BEK network have. She expresses her profound gratitude for the opportunity to work with some of the most talented and gifted broadcast professionals ever assembled and thanks BEK for creating and providing a collaborative culture.
