HHS grad wins first in the state in television news reporting
Western Illinois University junior Emily Manley captured first place in the state for television news reporting at the Illinois News Broadcasting Association (INBA) Spring Convention held April 22-24 in Springfield.
“This is the first time Western got first place in that category,” said Manley, who is a 2013 graduate of Highland High School. “We have gotten second place multiple times. When I heard my name come across the mic, I believe my professor was more excited than me, because my professor has seen so many people take second but never take first. I am very blessed to be in a department to have such supportive teachers.”
Manley found out that she was a finalist about three weeks ago and that she was going up against a reporter from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“I was worried,” she admitted. “Since U of I is such a big school, I thought my chance of winning was pretty low. But bringing home the gold was a great feeling.”
In addition, three of the newscasts Manley anchored were nominated and two of the three earned second place, with one of them winning Outstanding Newscast in the state.
Manley said her new teams at WIU (NEWS3) has more in common with a professional newscast then most college stations.
“We do three live shows a week and I love writing, producing, reporting, and anchoring them,” she said. “I’m very lucky to go to a school with so many opportunities and a place to help me grow in a field I love. Three years at Western and I have a lot to show for it and that wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for my professors.”
Ths summer, Manley will have great opportunity and resume builder as she will intern with KMOV, the CBS Channel 4 affiliate in St. Louis.
“Two of us were chosen out my many applicants,” she said. “I have the opportunity to produce, write, work with reporters and anchors, get video and edit, join any of the sports, weather, or investigative teams, and work with the different shows. I am very excited to see what the summer holds for me.”
In a widely successful junior year in which she has worked on such profound projects as covering President Obama in Springfield, traveling to U of I and Eastern Illinois for stories, covering the impasse of the budget, working with people in the Macomb community, traveling to Iowa to cover the caucuses, tracking weather, traveling to New York for a national award, as well as working with what she called her, “fantastic colleagues.”
“I have had a superb year,” Manley said. “After all the accomplishments I have had this year along with working at my dream station this summer, I am blessed. I can’t wait to see what senior year holds for me either.”
This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 10:15 AM with the headline "HHS grad wins first in the state in television news reporting."