Howard University "NewsVision" Grads Give Tips to Seniors

[Music] Hi News Visionaries I'm Danielle Leed better I'm a 2017 graduate from Howard University and now I'm an anchor and reporter at WSMV 4 in Nashville and I really just want to impart upon you guys I know that at Howard and especially in Professor Thomas's class the standard of Excellence is set and it's very normalized but I really want you to soak in the opportunities that this class will afford you it wasn't until more recently that I realized people worked their entire career to cover the nation's capital to work in the nation's capital to cover the White House and just get some of these opportunities that you guys will get from being in this class and I also want to say to especially the people who want to pursue a career in news uh being on air reporter anchor those types of things really focus on your shooting right now how you shoot things because that first job is going to look a lot like that just making sure you know your camera angles tight shots wide shots all of those things and your writing so really lock in and stay focused and congratulations guys you guys are almost there what's good news Visionaries my name is Bryce Parker and I was literally just sitting in your seats this past year um I was in the spring 2024 cohort of Capstone news Vision um right now I'm working in the DC area I'm a sports and news reporter and anchor and I literally got my job now because of the work that I did in this class like this this class truly prepared me to go in the industry and not only just go in the industry and get a job but to actually be successful and do compelling stories um literally just paid attention to everything in this class I came in I knew how to write I knew how to edit I knew how to report and it's because of the skills that I learned in this class so pay attention this class is going to be hard trust me it's going to be hard but just hold on to the Rope as hard as you can and get through your senior year but also remember to have fun be creative makes stories that challenge you make you feel emotions and you know it goes by fast but I promise you y'all are going to become a family like me and my news Vision cohort we talk almost every single day and so just take this time cherish it listen pay attention and we'll be successful at the end of the day hi new Visionaries my name is Brianna Vado I am a 2023 Howard University graduate and I'm currently a producer at 13 on your side in Grand Rapids Michigan um um I should also mention that I am part of the co class so we started in 2020 and still came out the other side successful so just know that you can do that as well also I think it's very very important and to just build relationships with each other be build organic relationships because you just never know which one of them you're going to work with afterwards to please take advantage of all the opportunities that um Professor Thomas brings to you all all it takes is that one Saturday that you sacrifice to go out to the White House they're always looking for Howard journalists to be out in the field graduation is right up ahead so just keep pushing through and never hesitate to to reach out to any other um news Visionaries alumni especially we all have community in each other so yeah my name is Phoenix Haley and I was a part of the spring 2024 exceptional news Vision cohort since graduating from Howard I moved to New York City to become a full-time staff writer here at the root um I cover anything from politics entertainment interviewing people on camera off camera and it's really just been a blast it comes down to my training at Howard but specifically it comes down to news vision and what this class has brought me and my classmates so for the next class I would say number one challenge yourself to think outside of the box and what you think uh journalism is and storytelling is there's so many different Lanes in so many different fields when it comes to journalism so really just make your own lane and stick to it um number two rely on your classmates you're literally sitting next to the next generation of storytellers so definitely take full advantage I'll see you at the top hi everyone my name is Ariana cob I'm a graduate of the class of 2022 and I took news Vision the fall of my senior year this was by far one of my favorite classes at Howard I was able to learn learn how to put together a news package and also got to work with my classmates to put together a really great newscast um I think one of my main takeaways and advice that I can give to you all is definitely take this class seriously but also have fun with it I think it was a really great experience to put together a news podcast put together a news package because not a lot of people get to do that in college a lot of people's firsthand experience is when you get into the workforce but I think news Vision was a really great way for us to be able to learn these things while also having a great Professor like Professor Thomas to show us what was right show us what was wrong or even just ways that we can improve um definitely get creative I put together a really great website that I actually still use today that gets me lots of compliments even now um that was one of the things that actually impressed my boss and the people who hired me for my current job um so definitely take that seriously even when you leave Howard Continue to update it um and then the third thing I think I would say is just have fun for a lot of you I'm sure this is one of your last classes that you're taking at Howard or one of the last classes that you're taking in the school of C so definitely soak up all you can and enjoy your experience in this class hi new Visionaries Kiara Patterson here I am a December 2023 graduate and about a year ago I was in your exact same spot wondering what the heck Capstone was I'm currently a reporter in Grand Rapids Michigan and I would not be here if it wasn't for the amazing work I did in Capstone last year and all the fun and amazing opportunities that I had through this course Professor Thomas is one of the best instructors you'll ever have and she really cares about you so know that even when she's giving you that tough love it's all because she wants you to succeed you'll be able to have stories that could be on whqt you'll be able to be in the White House Capitol Hill and Beyond so take every opportunity that comes your way and remember to stay focused be creative and really rely on and have friendships with the people that are around you your cstone news visionari are one of the main people that will help you get through this course so remember it's important to be an ally a good friend a good family member a good neighbor to the person that's sitting right next to you you're going to succeed and you're going to go far and remember Excellence without excuse I can't wait to see you all in the field one day and have a great rest of your semester bye hi my name is cash mcleay and I'm the inaugural Beyonce reporter hired by USA Today Network and I just want to say you are are in the best hands so do not take this time lightly I would not be who I am as a journalist or where I am if it weren't for the time and the hard work I put in when I was right in your shoes Professor Thomas cares so much about her students um and there's so many opportunities that you have you guys are the best of the best so make sure you act like it I've worked in hard news I've worked at news rooms like TMD in Los Angeles BBC News H television but the core of who I am as a journalist was built in this class I was able to go inside the White House and cover stories there I became an award-winning journalist upon graduating from Howard because of the time and the work I put in in your shoes so do not take this lightly and I'm so excited to see all that you guys accomplish I mean you signed up for a reason you have it within you so show the world what you have and make those deadlines best of [Music] luck like this