A Bright Future for Broadcasting: CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship 2016

Another CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship is in the books! A dozen students from across the country took part in the five-day journalism intensive program to prepare them for future broadcast media careers.

The students represented the University of Southern California, Suffolk University, Samford University, Loyola University, the University of Maryland, Boston University, Northwestern University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Capitol Broadcasting Company’s WRAL-TV and WRAL.com teamed up with UNC’s School of Media and Journalism to help increase diversity in the broadcast news industry. This was the program’s fourth year.

These talented young journalists collaborated in groups and individually to craft stories. A series of workshops were held by WRAL professionals and UNC journalism faculty as students soaked up the information. Students also produced their own newscasts.

“I am filled with pride,” Steve Hammel, vice president and general manager of WRAL-TV and Fox 50 said. “I am proud of the dedication of our staff who gave of its time and expertise to help the student journalists grow. I am proud of the students who I saw grow before my very eyes in five short days. And I am proud of our company—a company that has the values to help all people with different needs be as good as they can be.” Hammel has been the driving force behind the CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship.

This year’s group included 10 reporter fellows, a producer fellow, and for the first time, the group included a photographer fellow.

Aysu Basaran, assistant news director of WRAL-TV, coordinated the program on behalf of CBC. Basaran said, “These students are very impressive. I have no doubt they will take what they’ve learned during this fellowship and put it to good use when they land their first jobs in the industry.”

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Aysu Basaran for this capcom story and to WRAL-TV’s Jodi Glusco and Larry McGill for these capcom photos.

SLIDESHOW: 2016 CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship