WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams takes students on a tour of the newsroom on Groundhog Job Shadow Day.

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The gray and rainy day didn’t keep WRAL-TV from seeing sunny shadows on Friday, February 5, 2010.   A handful of students from Wake County middle and high schools came to the station for the annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day to learn about careers in the broadcasting industry.

WRAL-TV Director/Producer Clarence Williams coordinated a slate of presenters from all WRAL divisions, from promotions to engineering to sales to new media to the newsroom and more.  WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Ken Smith emceed the day, talked to the students about his own career experiences and helped Williams take groups on a tour. 

“This is a world where everyone lives on adrenaline,” WRAL-TV News Production Manager James Ford told the students.  “A world where everyone works as a team.”

Clayton High School seniors Vince Faison (left) and Corey Hitchcock learn about the skills they will need to pursue a career in broadcasting.

Smith pointed out how Ford parlayed an internship into a 25-year career at WRAL-TV.

WRAL-TV Assistant News Director Aysu Basaran and others also talked about how to get started in broadcasting, what kind of education is needed and how to build a good resumé.  They spoke of the importance of college and how learning critical thinking, meeting deadlines, etc. are invaluable things that college will teach.

Basaran showed the students a tape of the award-winning work of WRAL-TV.  She pointed out the emotion that goes into each piece.

After hearing from the variety of presenters the students got a tour of the station right before the noon newscast.  The group then enjoyed a pizza lunch in the multi-purpose room while watching the news.

WRAL-TV’s James Ford talks to the students about the behind-the-scenes work that goes on in the newsroom.

“Wow.  This was a great experience for me,” said Marchelle Horner, Career Development Coordinator for East Wake High Schools, who accompanied her students.  “I was excited to be able to bring students who actually have a desire to become journalists, etc.  I have more knowledge now that as a Career Development Coordinator, that I can share with students at my school.” 

As always, WRAL-TV staffers not directly involved in Job Shadow Day kindly greeted the students as they toured the station, taking time to stop and chat with them.