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Monday, July 11, 2016

Behind the Scenes at Channel 7

By Maggie Alves

Every day, we are bombarded by vast amounts of information coming through a variety of mediums. Whether on television, on a computer, an alert on our phones, or via social media, we rarely consider how it’s all getting there. What does it take to accurately deliver crucial information in a matter of minutes? The answer is found at ABC Channel 7. Last Wednesday, the Earthscope team got an exclusive tour of the newsroom led by the acclaimed Cheryl Jennings. We arrived in time to speak to some of the journalists and reporters before the 11 a.m. segment. Each spoke of their journey to get to where they are now: sitting in front of a camera delivering news to thousands around the Bay Area. Each recommended taking every opportunity presented and working tirelessly, whether your shift starts at two in the morning or at noon. At all hours, information is coming in to the station and being evaluated, scripts are written and edited, and reporters are sent into the field to receive the scripts and read them live on camera. At Channel 7, the hard work never stops.

No one embodies hard work and dedication like Cheryl Jennings. On our tour, Jennings emphasized the power of a first impression. She taught us how to give a professional handshake and that we should “always have something to say” when meeting someone for the first time. When she was an aspiring journalist, there were no women in the field to look up to. Her professionalism and work ethic demanded her respect in the office and landed her a spot as one of the first female news anchors in the United States. Hearing her advice was a privilege and we were so lucky to get a tour from her before she retires this year. Overall, my experience at Channel 7 opened my eyes to what it takes to deliver entertaining news rapidly to our screens.


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