WRAL-TV Hosts Open House for Students Interested in Explorer Post 5

WRAL-TV hosted an Open House for students interested in the Explorer Post 5 program for the 2023-24 school year on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Students and parents could attend the event in the station’s Café 550, to learn more in person and hear directly from Post 5 advisors and news staff.

WRAL-TV Anchors Reporters Gerald Owens and Debra Morgan stopped in during a break on the evening newscasts to share a little about their jobs and to encourage the potential future broadcasters.

*WRAL-TV Anchors Debra Morgan & Gerald Owens talk to students and their parents at the Open House for WRAL’s Post 5 at the station on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.*

“You’re in the best place for what you want to do,” said Owens. “Everyone here is here to help you. If you have a question, don’t be shy.”

Morgan talked about how she started by working on her high school and then college newspapers. She made her way up to editor of both and then had someone suggest she try on camera. Post college she applied for both newspaper and television jobs and got the TV job first. That put her on the path to where she is today as WRAL’s lead evening anchor.

The duo inspired the students, challenging them to be curious. In fact, they fielded questions from the crowd before heading back up to the newsroom.

Post 5 advisors Chris Cormier, Ken Bland and Melissa Heilicser then took over the program. Cormier, a WRAL engineer, has helped with the program for years, including pitching in with Explorer Post 50 at the Durham Bulls. Bland, a program management consultant, has served the program for over three decades, and is a large part of the program’s continued success.

Heilicser shared her own story. As a teenager she took part in the Explorer Post 50 program for a decade, beginning as a student participant in 1999 and later as a volunteer advisor. She later was hired in Master Control at WRAL-TV and now serves as Programming Coordinator at the station.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Post 50 and Ken Bland,” she told the Open House crowd. “This could be a life-changer for both kids and parents. I cannot recommend this program enough.”

The 2023-24 Explorer Post 5 class will be the first back in the actual WRAL studio since before the pandemic. And adapted program took place last year at an off-site location due to pandemic protocols in the newsroom.

The 6 to 8 month program will meet weekly, giving students an opportunity for hands-on learning experiences in the newsroom, editing bays, in the field and more. This year the program will expand to include fields beyond the actual broadcasting, such as marketing and HR.

*Advisor Ken Bland (center) helps students sign in at the Open House for WRAL’s Post 5 on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, in Cafe 550 at the studios.*

A Little History
Explorer Post 5 is the oldest communications post in the United States. Corp CEO & Board Chairman Jim Goodmon and engineer Powell Kidd started the program at WRAL, which is part of the Occoneechee Council Boy Scouts of America.

“This is a way for Jim Goodmon to give back,” said Bland of the CBC leader’s decades-long commitment to sponsoring the post.

Students, both male and female, between the ages of 14-20 can participate. The Boy Scouts expanded the Exploring program to became coed in the 1970s.

Post 5 students — *Previous Post 5 participants share their experience with students and their parents at the Open House for WRAL’s Post 5 at the station on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.*

WRAL covers all fees for students selected to participate in the program. Applications are currently being accepted through October 31, 2023. Only 25 students will be accepted due to space constraints and to make sure each participant is able to get hands-on experience.

For questions, please contact WRAL-TV Program Coordinator Melissa Heilicser at mheilicser@wral.com.