It’s Not My Job, It’s My Passion!
As we head into the holiday season and as the end of the year is just before us, this is a great time to reflect on the past year: successes, losses, challenges, wins, as well as opportunities and goals that we have yet to accomplish. This issue of the Byline features two Atlanta journalists who talk about their careers in journalism. Whether it is in front of the camera or behind the scenes, these two women have followed their passions, leading them to accomplish the successes they have achieved today. It is not just about having a job, it is about knowing who you are, knowing what you want, and knowing what your gifts and talents are. With this realization, anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Let’s get serious about our purpose so that we too can make an impact and inspire others!
Lisa Rayam Speaks on Her Longstanding Journalism Career
(Pictured: Lisa Rayam)
By
Mya Grant
Longevity in the journalism industry is more than the trust you build in your community, the ratings and reads you bring to your station or publication, or the renowned household name long after you’ve retired. Veteran journalist, Lisa Rayam, has enjoyed the course of her career, having the opportunity to continue her passions over the 20 plus years she’s been in journalism.
Raised in Phoenix, AZ, Rayam’s older sister was involved in the speech team at her high school and she wanted to follow in her footsteps. Once Rayam herself made it to high school, she enjoyed studying speech and wanted to see where these studies would take her beyond academics. While exploring her options, she began freelancing for the local Black-owned newspaper, The Arizona Informant, and was secure in her decision that she wanted to pursue journalism once she went to college.
While attending Arizona State University, Rayam believed that print journalism was going to be the route and career she wanted. She interned at another local newspaper and wasn’t completely certain about a career in print journalism but still enjoyed the art of storytelling. By her senior year, Rayam decided to try radio broadcasting through another internship with the campus radio station. This internship reignited her interests in journalism while giving her exactly what she was looking for.
“I like the immediacy of radio,” said Rayam. “I like being on the radio, I like telling stories, four and five on them a day as opposed to one for two and three days, and I just caught the bug.”
After graduation, Rayam was hired at KYCA Radio in Prescott, AZ and began reporting, learning the basics and perfecting her skills as a journalist. While transitioning into her next radio role in the Phoenix area, she noticed many of her peers were working in television, which she too was now interested in.
While still working within the small Arizona market, Rayam obtained her first job in television and continued to learn everything she could about journalism. As her career began to take off, she would go on to work at other smaller stations between Arizona, Florida and Georgia.
“The bug for me started with working at tiny stations,” said Rayam. “Learning all the ropes and kind of moving around to see where I fit in and what I liked best.”
Once she got to Atlanta, Rayam began working as a news anchor at WAGA-TV, also known as FOX 5 Atlanta. From 1994 to 2016, she anchored the 5 p.m. news broadcast and continued reporting on compelling stories. Her favorite aspect of her job was being able to combine everything that she had done and learned in previous roles to help her in this new role. She found her work exciting, thrilling and incomparable to anything else that she had ever done.
“I love breaking news,” said Rayam. “There was nothing like being on set telling a breaking news story and there was nothing like being out on the field conveying a breaking news story.”
Her love for storytelling and the great team of journalists she worked with led her to winning several Emmy awards for breaking news stories and reports. It all came together for Rayam as she made strides in the city and career that she has worked so hard for. She always dreamed of being in Atlanta, a top ten news market in the country and once she got here, she did everything she could to make the best of it. From bumping into Coretta Scott-King in the bathroom to having former mayor, Maynard Jackson, personally welcoming her to the city, Rayam flourished in the city and in her career.
After a 21-year career at FOX 5 Atlanta news, Rayam decided to transition back to broadcast radio. Now at WABE as a senior producer and anchor for NPR’s Morning Edition Atlanta, Rayam is enjoying her longstanding reputation and the endless number of opportunities she comes across to tell compelling stories. Rayam encourages other young journalists to take their time and learn everything there is to know about their career to ensure longevity the same way she has.
Tune in Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to listen to Rayam’s newest stories and follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter).
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Senior Producer Ericka Wilson Gives Tips for Recent Graduates
(Pictured: Ericka Wilson)
By
Da’Zhane Johnson
Chicago-native Ericka Wilson was a child with a curious and talkative spirit. Wilson recalled her childhood as the start of her career. She watched Black women on television, like Dianne Burns and Oprah, which fueled her passion into her college life.
In college, Wilson studied broadcast journalism and participated in five internships. Her roles included work in public relations, event production and television news. Eventually, these experiences helped narrow her career path into television production.
“At one point I thought I wanted to be a news anchor. But it was my last semester in college where I took a news producing course. This is when I said, ‘this is what I want to do. I want to be behind the scenes directing the narrative of our station,’” she explained.
Wilson is a Morning Senior Producer at Atlanta News First, in Atlanta where she builds the 4:30 a.m. news cast. From deciding reporter assignments to copy editing scripts, her early shifts are planned efficiently. When discussing her early mornings, Wilson reiterated how passion is the driving force for journalists.
“You have to be passionate in order to be a journalist. This isn’t a job where you just get up and go ‘okay let me go in and collect my paycheck,’” she begins. “In order for you to be happy and successful with it, you have to have a passion for it.”
After acknowledging their passion, she said the next step is to begin practicing the craft. Whether it’s writing scripts, rehearsing stand-up shots or reading, the success to a journalist’s career is built on repetition.
“As a journalist, you want to be a reliable source and people want to know that you understand what you’re talking about, so you have to read. Shoot as much content as you can, even if you have to shoot it all in one day,” she said.
There should also be a time of self-reflection as well. Particularly for recent graduates, Wilson explained knowing your strengths and weaknesses leads to opportunities of growth and transparency. When looking for a new job, people should recognize what they want from each opportunity as well. This level of awareness is good for employers too.
“Have at least three things in mind you want from the opportunity. That could be making a certain amount of money or working a certain shift,” Wilson stated. “If you know you’re really good with politics and that’s what you like to write about, you should let your team know this is where you come in strong.”
Lastly, graduates should also be open-minded and make themselves available for opportunities. Wilson implored that people should be willing to relocate. With Atlanta being her fifth market, she’s implemented this tip several times in her career too.
After the new year, Wilson will begin producing a later news cast, but is still grateful to be in the Atlanta market, telling stories to the Black community. Her next career goal is to transition into news management and eventually become a General Manager. She also is interested in running for a Board position with the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ) for the 2024 – 2026 term.
To keep up with Wilson’s journey, follow her on LinkedIn and check out her work on Atlanta News First.
This issue of the Byline was edited by Tianna Faulkner, Vice President of Print for the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ).