Close Window
Wake County Students Explore Careers in Television For A Day


Dillard Drive Middle School 8th grader Scott Victor (right) gets some tips on becoming a reporter from WRAL's Len Besthoff.

Before Punxsutawney Phil even stepped out of his burrow, some WRAL-TV employees were seeing their shadows. WRAL-TV participated in the Groundhog Shadow Day for Wake County Public Schools on Friday, February 1, 2002. Everyone from anchors to photographers to directors to technologists showed students the behind the scenes workings of a television station.

WRAL-TV Director/Producer Clarence Williams and Anchor/Reporter Ken Smith coordinated the event at the station. Ten Wake County students spent the morning learning the nuts and bolts of television production. The students also got to watch the preparation for the noon newscast and observe the actual broadcast.


Liz Foster (left to right), Julie Austin & Jamie Pittman, seniors at Fuquay Varina High School, get instruction on the light board.
WRAL's Jennifer Sorber (left) teaches Dillard Drive Middle School 8th grader Natalie Everett about preparing for a newscast.

The Wake County Public School System's School-to-Career initiative and Junior Achievement of North Carolina coordinate the countywide event. The Groundhog Shadow Day kicks off a yearlong campaign to pair students with professionals in their field of interest.


Milbrook HS senior Janet Goeking (right) quizzes WRAL's Leesa Craigie about the training necessary to direct a newscast.

"As the job market grows increasingly competitive, it is necessary that students have a firm understanding of the value of education," said Bob Brauer, president of Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina and the event coordinator. "There is no better way to gain that understanding than to see first-hand how professionals use their education daily on the job."


POSTED: February 4, 2002