Meeting Cheryl Jennings

By: Charlotte Trotter

As the group of young, unfamiliar, intelligent teenagers approached the ABC sign, anxiousness circled their minds. The group did not know what to expect other than getting an inside look on how the daily news was broadcasted each day. Luckily, they learned much more than that.

The group was first introduced to journalist and philanthropist, Cheryl Jennings, the Co-news Anchor/Reporter for the ABC7 news daily in San Francisco. After a short introduction, she quickly took the group upstairs to the newsroom. The news report was set to start in 10 minutes and the group of teenagers were ready and eager to watch the ABC7 11:00 news. The room was filled with elaborate colorful backgrounds, green screens, 3 massive cameras, multiple TV screens, a long wide desk, two anchors preparing their makeup and scripts, a weather reporter practicing her segment, and one female director who was preparing for the extensive half-hour coverage soon to come. The group waits anxiously to see how the news is produced every day in awe of the behind the scenes features. The two anchors not only talked to each other, but asked the group simple questions, making small but funny pleasant jokes with each other before the news with just 5 minutes to go.

30 seconds prior start time, the director tells the group not to make any noise and to turn off our cell phones. There is a pause and Cheryl Jennings begins to talk, introducing the channel and the news that is soon to be shown. The group watches in admiration as the professionals undergo there repetitive motions they do automatically every day. When it is time for the weather segment, they scurry over behind the wall of a green screen. The women points to nothingness on the green, yet on the TV her hand is exactly spot on with the words she is saying rather rapidly. The whole room is in unison.

After the show, the group is permitted to go behind the desk and pretend to create the feeling of presenting a newscast. They are allowed to ask countless questions because the anchors are more than happy and excited to share what they have learned. The group learns that the anchors help write their own scripts, the anchors must wear solid bold colors and wear only a certain type of makeup that they put on themselves. They also learn the hard work and dedication it takes to make it as a news anchor for ABC7 news. Cheryl Jennings started out as an intern who made coffee runs for a news company, but because she showed persistence, tenacity, communication, and kindness, she was able to work her way up to wear she is now.

The group is then encouraged to play with the green screen monitors and finally return to Jennings. She gives the group an upstairs tour for more behind the scenes features. They make their way to a dark room that is lit with 50 computer screens. She explains the jobs for controlling the cameras and sound quality with the computers. She also explains the procedures in case of emergency news, how the news sets up in the littlest time possible for the delivery to the public. In the room as a conclusion to the tour, Cheryl Jennings gives the group small but important tips for first impressions concerning job interviews. She explains how to give a firm and important hand shake that will make those around you remember you. She stresses to the group the importance of confidence in yourself as key and gives the group some examples.

The group then makes their way out of the building soaking in every last drop of information they can remember. They are excited and grateful that they had this opportunity.