Students to Professionals, the 2020 RTDNAC Student Workshop

For college students studying broadcast and digital journalism, the thought of turning their education into a career can be daunting. That’s why the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas holds an annual Student Workshop, putting students together with working professionals.

The 2020 event, at the studios of WBTV in Charlotte, drew 130 students from several journalism programs at both North Carolina and South Carolina schools. More than 30 working professionals shared their experience of getting into and thriving in the modern media environment.

An increasing number of workshop professionals, offering advice and a helping hand, were once among the students. For example, Abbey O’Brien of Charleston’s WCSC, Live 5 News. O’Brien had attended the Student Workshop several times during her education at the University of South Carolina. She was once the winner of a RTDNAC scholarship. Now she shares her experience with others, after 5 years of work at two South Carolina television stations.

Workshops covered many topics including:  Getting your first job, reporting and anchoring, investigative reporting, broadcast voice, producing, digital news, and multi-media journalism. Students also had one-on-one sessions with broadcast and digital professionals for critiques of their college work and specific advice on how to start and advance their careers.

The next Student Workshop will be held in February 2021.