Annette Lawless

Anchor / Reporter

Emmy and Murrow-award winning journalist Annette Lawless joined the KAKE News family as an anchor and reporter in August 2013. You can catch her on Good Morning Kansas weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and on Good Morning KAKEland at 9 a.m.. In the summer of 2018, Annette launched Missing in Kansas: an investigative series sharing a missing person’s story every day.

Born in Wellington, Kan., Annette got her start to journalism when she still had baby teeth. Often, she'd dazzle her friends with elaborate stories at the elementary school lunch table. Until one day, she gabbed too much and was shamefully penalized without recess for the whole day -- a true devastation for any 7-year-old. She's still a little bitter to this day.

She didn't stop talking, however. Her skill evolved into an elaborate public speaking career in high school, nabbing more than 75 awards in speech, debate and acting.

She was named one of the top public speakers in the country and soon made her move to the glitzy metropolitan of Manhattan... Kansas.

Annette graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in broadcasting, print journalism and public relations. She's since worked for ESPN and at TV stations in Topeka, Wichita and Cleveland. She received dozens of awards in producing, editing, reporting and photography from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, the National Press Photographer's Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Legion, the Radio Television Digital News Association, the Cleveland Press Club, the Ohio News Photographer's Association and the Emmy's Great Lakes chapter. She serves on the board of the Heartland Emmy Chapter's board of governor's and fills other leadership roles in the community.

Her biggest prize was meeting her husband, Tim, a fellow journalist in Wichita. They have three children.

Though a geek to the core, Annette can be quite the daredevil. She's rappelled off 500-foot cliffs and climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge. She loves photography, building websites, playing Nintendo and social media. Be sure to give her a follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. She also has a passion for acting and has been in more than 20 films, including The Avengers, Fun Size and Draft Day.

Some of her favorite shows are Gilmore Girls, Friends, Pretty Little Liars, Dancing with the Stars, The Wonder Years and Sex and the City. She also enjoys watching true-crime shows and listening to podcasts.

One of Annette's truest passions is cooking, especially baking breads and cinnamon rolls. Her husband recommends her cheese bierocks and German apple cake. In her spare time, she delivers Meals on Wheels to those in need.

But no matter what, Annette's heart will always lie in reporting, where she gets to meet interesting people and talk all day long... with as much recess as she'd like.

Connect: