Journalism Students Go Behind the Scenes at NY1

Words by Zoe Taylor

Agroup of CCNY journalism students got an up-close-and-personal look at Spectrum News NY1, New York City’s24/7 news channel, last Thursday May 2. A panel of reporters and producersoffered career advice and also stressed the importance of  local reporting.

Followinga tour of the newsroom, located in Chelsea in downtown Manhattan, the studentslistened to a panel discussion from staff members who work both in front of thecamera and behind the scenes at NY1 and NY1 Noticias, the Spanishlanguage channel. The speakers included Anthony Proia (director), Roberto Lacayo (Noticias director),Bob Hardt (political director) and on-air personalities Juan Manuel Benitez(Noticias anchor), Courtney Gross (political reporter), and Grace Rauh(political reporter). Each described how they got into journalism and eventuallylanded a job in the company.

CCNY student Nicole Rodriguez in the NY1 studio

Rauhnoted that she used her connections. “Really your way to get your foot in thedoor is through the people that you know,” she advised.

Thepanel emphasized the urgency of local news, especially as many cities have beenforced to cut back in this era of rising digital and social media and in theface of a decline in industry revenue. “You end up covering things that willactually affect people’s lives on a daily basis,” explained Gross, “so muchmore so than what’s happening in Washington.”

Panel, from left: Anthony Proia, Roberto Lacayo, Grace Rauh, Bob Hardt, Juan Manuel Benitez and Courtney Gross

Theprofessional journalists told stories of their immense devotion to the job andlove of the work. They described sleeping in cars, standing in the frigid coldin the middle of winter, and running out late at night to cover a story whilepregnant and exhausted. “You are ultimately a miner,” said Hardt. “[It means]going out and digging for something, bringing back a little nugget and bringingit to everyone else.”

Forprospective journalists who hope to break into the industry, the panel offeredwords of wisdom. They emphasized hard work, determination, and enthusiasm inorder to be successful in the field. Hardt summed up: “You have to break out ofyour comfort zone.”