Next Generation Of Broadcast Journalists Graduate From KYW Newstudies Program
By Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The KYW Newsradio Newstudies program teaches broadcast journalism to high school students across the region. The class of 2014 graduated Wednesday night.
The six-week program shows students what it takes to be a reporter -- students like Brendan Tierney:
"I learned absolutely everything within the industry -- radio and tv, how to write script, how to be on air, how to speak," he tells KYW Newsradio.
Tierney, a senior at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, won the Drucker Award, which gives him an internship in the KYW newsroom.
"I feel absolutely amazing," he says. "I still haven't come down from the high of it. I was really excited to get the opportunity to even get a final interview and getting it is absolutely amazing."
Tierney says he can't wait to continue his career in broadcast journalism, which he plans on studying in college. He says Syracuse and Northwestern are among his top choices.
Several KYW journalists served as teachers during program, giving students an inside look at the field.
"I learned that gathering sound and getting interviews is a lot harder than I thought it would be," says Leslie Collins.
Collins, a senior from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, won a $2,000 scholarship for a story she did on an inner-city tennis and tutoring program.
"I loved putting this project together and it turned out a lot better than I thought it would," she tells KYW Newsradio.
Leslie says before Newstudies, she had no idea what her college major should be. Now she says she wants to concentrate in journalism
This year's class had more than 100 graduates.