Through my journalism coursework, I’ve had the opportunity to produce video stories both independently and through UI7 Newsroom, the University’s student broadcast newsroom. Within UI7, students contribute to a range of shows covering politics, sports, Latino news, and more. While I worked directly on UI7 Newsbreak — a 15-minute segment focused on campus and local coverage — my packages were also picked up and used on UI7 Live, another program within the newsroom. On Newsbreak, I rotated through roles as a reporter, anchor, and producer, gaining experience across multiple parts of the production process.
These experiences helped me become comfortable working in the field with professional camera equipment, handling microphones and reporting on deadline. I also developed my editing skills using Adobe Premiere Pro, learning how to shape raw footage into clear, engaging stories.
Below are a few of the packages I produced for UI7 Newsbreak that were also used across other UI7 programs. The first piece was my initial video feature project — while it wasn’t broadcast, it marked an important starting point for my growth in video journalism and remains one I’m proud of.
Highlights!
Alyssa Anderson - Video Profile
This was my final project for my Multimedia Reporting class in spring 2025. Over the course of the semester, I learned the basics of photo, audio, and video journalism. For our final assignment, we were asked to find someone impacted by legislation under President Trump — which led me to Alyssa Anderson.
Reporting this story was especially meaningful because it gave me the chance to connect with someone navigating challenges I had never personally experienced. As both an advocate and teacher for special education students, Alyssa had seen the effects of Department of Education funding cuts firsthand.
What stood out most was how her professional and personal lives intersected. The story took a more human, emotional turn when she spoke about her young daughter, who has spina bifida. I approached this piece with the goal of telling her story as truthfully and respectfully as possible, while still capturing its emotional weight. Speaking with Alyssa deepened my understanding of the responsibility that comes with telling someone else’s story.
Halloween Safety - News Package
While reporting for UI7 Newsbreak, I was assigned to localize a national news story. Before Halloween last year, I interviewed Champaign Police Department Public Information Officer Joe Lamberson about how families and children can stay safe while trick-or-treating.
One of the highlights of this piece was getting to capture colorful b-roll at a local trunk-or-treat event. Filming kids in costume as they collected candy and played games added an engaging, visual layer that helped bring the story to life.
Sorry Forever - Feature Package
With this package, I had the opportunity to combine my interest in music with my video reporting. I centered the story around the Champaign-Urbana-based band, sorry forever, as they promoted their debut EP after building a following through local house shows.
Filming their live performance was a highlight of the project. I captured multiple angles of the band onstage, which allowed me to build strong sequences and create a more dynamic final edit. As someone especially drawn to live music, it was a new and rewarding experience to not only watch a performance, but document it visually. It also made for great natural sound!
Champaign County Humane Society - Vertical Video Package
With this story, I had the opportunity to experiment with my news packages by adapting one into a vertical format for social media.
As more audiences turn to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for news, it’s become increasingly important to translate longer-form reporting into shorter, accessible content. This project pushed me to think about how to maintain the integrity of a story while reshaping it for a different platform and audience.
I learned how to reformat my b-roll and interviews for vertical video, as well as add readable captions in Adobe Premiere Pro. Using on-screen text helped make the information more engaging and easy to follow for viewers who might be scrolling on their phones.