Building Skills in the Newroom: Emerging Leaders Profiles on Nakya Carter and Kenya Dupree

For the past 4 months, 11 students from three local universities, NC Central University, Shaw and St. Augustine's, have been interning in Capitol Broadcasting divisions through the second year of the Emerging Leaders Program. A partnership between CBC and Leadership Triangle, the program combines hands on learning in departments aligned to their interests along with workshops led by LT coaches. The program will culminate with a graduation ceremony on December 13. In the final weeks leading up to that conclusion, CapCom is profiling several of these outstanding students.

Nakya Carter is a senior at Shaw University, double majoring in Mass Communication and Business Management. Kenya Dupree is also a senior, but at NC Central University. Both are interning at WRAL-TV in the news department.

WRAL-TV Assistant News Director Aysu Basaran and WRAL-TV Digital Director of Content Jodi Glusco both work closely with Carter and Dupree, as mentors during their time at the station.

I applied to the CBC/Leadership Triangle Program because I wanted to challenge myself in the pursuit of my journalism career, said Carter. I also wanted to grow in the area of leadership and social intelligence.

The Emerging Leaders newsroom interns eagerly embraced the chance to be in the middle of a local news operation.

Emerging Leaders Intern Kenya Dupree

Both Kenya and Nakya are excited to learn and willing to try just about any role here in the newsroom, said Basaran. They've worked to develop relationships with people in the newsroom which will serve them well as they try to land their first jobs.

Glusco agreed.

From the start, both interns have been willing and able communicators, which is key to juggling flexible school/internship schedules, she told CapCom. They are eager learners and often ask for more responsibility. Both have made extra efforts to be here amid a busy semester and beyond transportation issues.

Carter is happy for the connections she is making.

One of my favorite things about my internship is the space WRAL-TV gives me to be able to grow, she said. I have met so many amazing people at this internship that encourage me to keep going. The relationships I have built and the people who have mentored me have been nothing short of beneficial and enlightening.

Emerging Leaders Intern Nakya Carter (center) on a reporting trip to Planet Peace Farm.

Basaran and Glusco have worked to give the Emerging Leaders duo exposure to a variety of facets of gathering and sharing news.

We've been rotating Kenya and Nakya through different roles in the newsroom, having them work closely with reporters, anchors and producers, said Basaran. They've been able to showcase their own writing on WRAL.com, and they've worked shifts for WRAL News+. We work with them to find what they are most interested in because there are so many different roles in news. Then, we foster their development in that particular role.

Glusco added, While we teach hands-on practices for digital and television storytelling, we also emphasize asking for what help - in brainstorming a story, in making connections with sources, in getting feedback.

Basaran and Glusco listened to what skills and expertise Carter and Dupree wanted to develop and set them up for learning in those specific arenas.

Both came to us aware of where they wanted to grow, explained Glusco. In particular, Kenya knew she needed more reps in writing stories, so she has had more direct feedback from digital producers in doing so.

Emerging Leaders Intern Nayka Carter

Carter spelled out some of the specifics she has gained during her time in the news department.

I have learned in the past three months how to create New Packages, produce shows, write stories, and read from the teleprompter as an anchor would, she said. I have gotten the full experience that anyone would if they were working in television daily. It has been a treat to see growth in self-confidence doing these things and being willing to get out of my comfort zone.

Glusco and Basaran also worked to impart another critical skill.

This year we have tried to teach more time management, said Glusco. Each intern has both short-term and long-term assignments, requiring them to pace out information gathering, drafts and deadlines.

Both students came through when immediate needs arose on the job.

Nakya was in the right place at the right time when we didn't have a replay operator one evening for one of our sports shows, said Basaran. She received a crash course on deadline and really helped us out when we needed it the most.

Each is producing a diversity of content we'll use on our digital platforms - stories, video, social posts and image galleries, said Glusco.

Emerging Leaders Intern Nakya Carter on a reporting trip to Planet Peace Farm.

Carter is glad to have be selected for the Emerging Leaders experience.

I feel honored and grateful to be accepted, she said. Opportunities such as this don't just come, you have to work for them. I was excited to embark on the journey I currently am on with CBC and Leadership Triangle. I have seen myself evolve professionally and as a better individual.

She would certainly recommend the Emerging Leaders Program to other students.

I believe this program will challenge other students like myself to build relationships, grow professionally, build their resumes, and have some fun, said Carter. The people and the program itself is an experience that really makes an impact.

Basaran also spoke to the value of the program.

The program provides hands-on learning for the interns and support from a leadership coach through Leadership Triangle. While they learn the how to,' they also work toward having a voice and influencing others in the workplace.

Thanks to WRAL-TV's Jodi Glusco, WR

LINK:	https://capitolbroadcasting.com/2023/12/11/building-skills-in-the-newr...
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