Local Television News 2023 Style

 

On July 27 Charleston’s WCSC-TV rolled out the red carpet for six visitors from SC State’s Department of English and Communications. 

Pictured from left in Channel 5’s studio are Rosalind Hanson, Dante Mozie, Rolando Davis, Dr. Janice Hawes, Patrick Harwood and Justin Smith. 

The invaluable learning experience came at the invitation of main anchor Ann McGill who spoke on campus to communications students and faculty in April (read about that here). Professor Dante Mozie followed up on the offer and it all came together on this summer day in July. 

WCSC, located in West Ashley, is a CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television, one of the nation’s largest broadcast companies with 180 TV stations across the U.S. 

Along with Charleston’s WCSC, Gray also operates South Carolina stations in Columbia, Greenville and Myrtle Beach, and regionally in Savannah, Charlotte and Atlanta. 

Our visit was very well organized with the precision of a tightly produced newscast. That’s no surprise since that’s the station’s expertise. 

Morning executive producer Jesikah Lawrence (center) led the tour. Jesikah is a West Ashley High School and University of South Carolina graduate. 

Alumna Kris Kaylin Bennett Guest Hosts on Popular "Breakfast Club" Radio Program

 

Big Bulldog kudos to Kris Kaylin (Class of 2016) who on July 19 was in New York sitting in with Charlamagne the God and DJ Envy for their popular "Breakfast Club" on Power 105 FM (WWPR-FM). 

Kris is a veteran of the Charleston radio scene, has produced documentaries and has her own video shows. She has expertise in social media and is obviously very well-connected!  

Kris, always loyal to her Charleston roots, gave a nice shout-out to fellow native Darius Rucker when the breakfast club was naming country music stars. 

Congratulations Kris and we will be watching for your next star turn! 

Head Shot Event Hits the Mark!

 

Many thanks to Communications Program production coordinator Rolondo Davis (right) for his expertise last week in our professional head shots event. 

This was a campus wide service and fundraising initiative for the Communications Club. A number of students, staff and faculty came by Turner Hall to pose for Mr. Davis in his pop up studio. 

For just $5 everyone had several profile photos taken and after some fine tuning by Mr. Davis, the favorite images (chosen by the subjects) were emailed to each attendee. 

To follow are samples of the high quality photos that we all can use for LinkedIn, other social media and different professional purposes. 

Thank you Rolondo Davis for sharing your time, equipment and expertise to make this first time event a big success!  

Thanks also to freshman Communications Club member Ariana Pinder for signing people in, taking payments and ensuring an efficient process. 

Kudos as well to Alex Gadsden of the Comm Club and Spiked Magazine for helping Mr. Davis with some of the photography. 

Let's head now to those beautiful head shots!

Nia Smith 

Farm to (TV) Market: Charleston Anchor Ann McGill

 

"I grew up on a tobacco farm," WCSC-TV news anchor Ann McGill told SC State communications students on April 4. "My father told me 'I need free labor, so if you don't make it...'"

Growing up that was all the motivation McGill needed to do well in school. "My friend would ask me 'Why do you always sit in the front row?' I told her I don't want to work on the farm the rest of my life!" 

In high school her activities included the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). As club historian she wrote an article that was published in the local newspaper. And she successfully competed in public speaking contests. Her juices as a future communicator started to flow. 

The family tobacco farm was in the small community of Nesmith (pronounced Knee-smith) near Kingstree in South Carolina's Williamsburg County.

Born Andrewnetta, she was the youngest of seven children. "There were no names left," McGill laughs. "My parents let my two sisters name me and they wanted my nickname to be Andy." 

Communications Club Professional Headshots Event Coming Up!

 

Sierra's Sage Advice to SC State Communications Students

On March 16 SC State students learned the power of perseverance, patience and positivity.  

The Communications Program's Media Professionals Speaker Series brought from Columbia Sierra Artemus, of WIS-TV. She is the producer and sometimes host of the station's daily "Soda City Live" program. 

Sierra also has her own podcast, SiTV, and is a sought after speaker, brand strategist, community activist, and youth advocate. 

A native of Columbia, Sierra graduated from Richland Northeast High School and the University of South Carolina (B.S. Broadcast Journalism). 

Sierra's' degree from USC was 11 years in the making. She says she had to pay her own way through school and this caused some stops and starts. 

"You've got to be eager and hungry," she told the students. Sierra's career path reflects this attitude. 

Sydaija Smalls Turns Internship into Fulltime Reporting Job!

 

All of us in the Communications Program and Department of English and Communications are so proud of December 2022 graduate Sydaija "Syd" Smalls who did not waste time gaining a great job! She is a news reporter/multimedia reporter at Charleston's WCIV-TV.  

Syd can also be seen on the Fox 24 7 p.m. newscast in Charleston.

Syd took the big walk across the stage at SMH on Dec. 16. That semester she had an internship at the Charleston station. News Director Cathy Hobbs was so impressed with the Goose Creek High School graduate (and now SC State grad) that by early 2023 she offered her a job. 

Before coming to Orangeburg, Syd studied broadcasting and other media at Trident Technical College. At SC State she quickly became a mainstay at Bulldog News Now (BNN) as an anchor and reporter. 

Syd graduated with top academic honors and is also an excellent role model for current and prospective students in how hard work and determination can pay off! And the value of having a high-quality internship where you impress the professionals there is important too. 

Check out Sydaija Small's Linkedin site here. 

In fine fashion, Syd always represented SC State, BNN, the Communications Club, and our program.

In September 2022, Syd and Midrina Tucker (below) covered U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Columbia. 

Go Syd! Bulldog Nation is howling with joy and pride! 

Communications Club Launches Spiked Magazine!

 

Congratulations to the staff of SC State's new online magazine, Spiked! It debuted in late February 2023 and is quite fresh, fun, interesting and well-produced. 

Click here to see it front to back.

Chasity Gilmore (pictured right with Aliyah Jerrell and Midrina Tucker) deserves credit as the mastermind of this publication. It was Chasity who expressed the goal to begin a magazine "for SC State students by SC State students." 

She brought together a talented, dedicated staff of fellow Communications Club members. Together they created this first issue. 

This is an important new addition to campus life and we are excited for the future of Spiked!  

Valentine's Day Fundraiser a Sweet Success!

Candy, pinatas, and Valentine's Day-themed photo opportunities successfully combined on Feb. 14 when the Communications Club staged quite the happening! Students, staff and faculty donated bags and bags of candy that were sold for $2 a handful. Swings at the colorful pinatas were $1.50 for three tries. And over at the Student Center photos were $8 for three. More than $500 was raised during the daylong event. The students want to use the fund to acquire T-shirts promoting Spiked, the new student-produced online magazine. 

Here are some photos from the fun day that day picture perfect weather!

Here are the three candy sale VIPs (from right): Tay Travis, Summer Gray and Aliyah Jerrell. They were here from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (ish) and were so good about inviting passing students to stop by our table of goodies! 

Chasity Gilmore (right) is president of the Communications Club and the editor of the new Spiked magazine. Next to her is Midrina Tucker and also here is Aliyah Jerrell. 

Sheen Magazine Has Exciting Student Opportunities!

Sheen magazine is a beautiful 16-year-old bi-monthly publication that is all about beauty tips and successful, inspiring people.

And it is based right here in South Carolina in Greenville (Fountain Inn to be specific). 

The magazine was launched around 2006 in part to promote the company's Nairobi hair and skin products.

Representatives say 100,000 copies of Sheen are printed six times a year and distributed nationally and internationally. They also touted their associated online presence as drawing one million views.

Check out Sheen's behind-the-scenes photo shoot video.

Many thanks and congratulations to the Communications Program's Andrea Milford-Williams and Rolonda Davis for the fine event on Feb. 16 that they organized for our students featuring representatives of Sheen magazine! This could be an excellent ambassador and internship opportunity for our major for years to come. Kudos to the Career Center also for its part. 

Sheen promotions director Darren Martin (pictured) explained these student opportunities and after the event, numerous students sought more information. We have lots of students from S.C.'s Upstate region so this could be an exciting opportunity for them! 

Martin said he is looking for SC State students to serve as Sheen ambassadors. He is seeking writers to become columnists to share "the HBCU experience...and we could also select someone to set up promotions...we could ask you to set up a fashion show on campus," he said. 

Editor-in-chief Kristyn Harris, a Lander University (Greenwood, S.C.) graduate, told the students when asked that the best part of her job is "the connections" she makes, meeting and getting to know the celebrities often in the magazine and on the covers, and the many freelance writers and photographers she brings in to provide content. 

Current and former students interested in connecting with Sheen can do so by calling (864) 862-6782, emailing info@sheenmagazine.com, or writing to PO Box 6533, Greenville, SC 29607.

The Communication Program is committed to bringing high-quality professionals to campus on a regular basis during the school year.