This semester has been such a wonderful learning experience for me. At the start of the semester, I was nervous about how producing would be different from reporting. I wondered if I would be good at it or be able to handle the pressure of being a leader in the class. 

I have been pleasantly surprised by the whole experience and have greatly enjoyed seeing my growth over the course of this semester. It has been a learning experience as a whole and I am so grateful for all of the help, guidance, and support I have been given along the way. 

I would  love to thank Professor Dahlia and Professor Marra for their coaching and critiques during our production. They have set Haley and I  up with an excellent set of skills to take into our first jobs as producers. W ithout these valuable skills,  I do not think we would be  as well prepared as we are to enter the industry. 

On that note, I am very excited to announce that I will be accepting a job as a news producer following graduation. I will start in June with WBKO in Bowling Green, KY! Working on these shows while figuring out the logistics of moving and negotiating contract terms has been a very interesting life lesson and I am grateful for the help and guidance of my professors, advisors, future employers, and of course my family. I cannot wait to see what life as a producer is like and it will surely be an adventure. Thank you to everyone who has watched our shows and supported our program! 

Lastly, I would like to thank my co-producer, Haley. You are such a joy to work with and I have had so much fun pulling all-nighters working on these scripts and making sure we put our best foot forward. I will miss the peace you bring to my life and the way you keep me grounded as we work! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to these shows and I truly do not think I could have done this without you. I will miss working with you!

Best Wishes,

Sydney Wentz, WVU News Co-Producer, Spring 2024

At the beginning of the semester, I was terrified to become a co-producer for WVU News. Sydney and I met with Professor Dahlia one day after class to review all the producer's responsibilities for the semester. Both of us were overwhelmed, but we knew we could handle it. At first, I was shy and did not say much, but as the weeks went on, I got more confident in my writing and my leadership skills. 

Our special edition show was my favorite production as it covered many different areas within the world of social media and artificial intelligence. I had no clue how big of an impact AI had on society until we worked on this show. I would also like to thank Professor Marra and Dahlia for always believing in me and not giving up when I was not at my best. Both of you have prepared me for the real world and I am so excited to take that next step. I am going to miss you both.

I am also very excited to announce that I will be moving to Savannah, Georgia, and will work for WTOC as a news producer. I was given the job offer earlier this week and I am waiting for the contract to come through for me to sign. I am so excited to return home to Georgia and see what great things I can do there. I am so thrilled to be working as a producer and doing this every day. There is going to be a learning curve, being at a new station, but I am up for the challenge!

Last but not least, I would love to thank Sydney for all that she has done for me. Since she has taken this class before, she had a better understanding of how to do things at first. It was nice to learn from her how certain things work since she was a reporter last year. I am going to miss going to your apartment, working on the scripts together, by hand, and staying up late making sure everything was perfect. I have made a best friend and I could not have made it through this year without you. I am going to miss you and I am so excited to see what you will accomplish in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are super lucky to have you!

Best Wishes,

Haley Kish, WVU News Co-Producer, Spring 2024