Graduates Making Moves!

 It is always great to hear from our Communications graduates. Here is some recent news from two alumni both working at television stations. They are Jerel Palmer (left) and Destinee Chambliss. 

Jerel Palmer, Class of 2016, continues his move up television markets. In November Palmer is taking his videography and editing talents to Charlotte's NBC affiliate WCNC.  Charlotte is America's No. 21 TV market based on the number of homes with televisions in the viewing area. See the full list of U.S. TV markets here. 

Jerel, a graduate of Marion (S.C.) High School, will be moving across the Tar Heel state to Charlotte from Raleigh where since September 2019 he has been a photojournalist at WNCN-TV. Prior to Raleigh, Palmer was a photojournalist at stations in South Carolina (Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and Columbia where he was a Content Specialist). 

At SC State he gained extensive hands-on video production experience through his classes and as chief videographer for SC State Student Media. He was also regularly made the Dean's List for his good grades. 

You can connect with Jerel Palmer on his LinkedIn site. The site includes one of his video "resume tapes." These are essential to have for young people interested in getting hired and for moving up in the competitive television news business, as Palmer continues to do.  

Destinee Chambliss is a 2018 SC State Communications graduate who hails from the Atlanta area (she graduated from Decatur High School). Since August 2019 Chambliss has been a morning news producer at WALB-TV in Albany, Ga, a dual ABC and NBC affiliate. She also works with her station's sports department.  

Prior to her move to Albany, Chambliss worked for six months in Atlanta at Fox 5, WAGA-TV. There she gained invaluable experience through a news training program she applied for and was accepted into. 

While at SC State she had internships at two Charleston TV stations, WCSC Live 5 News and WTAT Fox 24. Her LinkedIn site also includes work she did during the Practicum class all Communications students must take. 

Chambliss, when asked to share any advice she has to offer current comm students or recent graduates, generously responded with the following words of wisdom. Thank you Destinee!

I encourage every student to remain consistent and transparent and remember that you never stop being a student. Having an internship is what will always help in the long run. When you apply and accept your internship you have to remember to be as active as possible. So the producers, anchors, MMJ's, or news director that you're working to be in the same place they are someday. Most importantly, SAVE YOUR WORK! If you've written a story, a press release, or even recorded a video for a story that aired. Make sure you're saving your work so that your future employer knows that this is something you take seriously, and that they also have something to look at to show that you have been working. 

It's also about who you know, you have a mentor or friend that works in a market you're pursuing it's okay to ask for their help.

• Before I started at my current job while I was at school, I worked with Mr. Harwood in our TV studio every week. During my junior year, I interned at WCSC in Charleston, There I was working with the producers and production learning the day to day skills to know what it meant to work in news. 

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• During my senior year, I interned at FOX 24 in Charleston, SC and I solely worked with the producers, because I knew that was the position I wanted to be in. 

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• Once I graduated, I moved back home to Atlanta and took a chance on myself and applied to a Top 10 market station. I applied to FOX 5 ATL as a News Trainee so that I can actually train more in my field before applying for a full-time job.

• Once I applied, I was instantly offered a 6-month contract. From there I started working on the morning show with the producers, segment producers, and interview bookers. I was producing half-hour shows and working with celebrity guests, chefs, authors, actors, and musicians who came on our show every week. 

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• I even worked during Super Bowl week. While I was there, I remained active, progressive, and consistent. I was always early or on time, I always took the initiative to work ahead before I was told. I also helped come up with new segments for the show. 

• At the end of my contract, I had done so well being at the station I made life long friends and connections that I can use whenever I needed. One of the producers at the station was such a big help that she put in a good word for me at my current station and that's how I was able to secure my very first full-time producer position. 

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• Now I am the morning producer for the 6 a.m. news. I have also worked on the primetime 5 p.m.. and 6 p.m. shows... The end goal is to always remember where you want to be and how you're going to get there and that's exactly what I did. Now I'm working my dream job and able to work with many people from all over the nation...

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  Also, if anyone needs help finding a job after graduation feel free to contact me..