Shay Simon is an Associated Press (AP) award-winning recent graduate of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University.
She most recently completed her internship at CBS This Morning, America’s fastest-growing network morning news broadcast and says FAMU made it possible.
“The highlight of my FAMU experience was both anchoring News 20 on FAMUTV and interning at CBS for two and half months in New York City,” said Simon. I met Oprah Winfrey on my first day; that’s how intentional God is. Those are both opportunities I would not have been given if I hadn’t attended FAMU.”
Prior to heading off to the Big Apple, Simon won an AP College Broadcasters Award for her work as the anchor for FAMU’s News 20, the University’s live, student-produced newscast.
Simon began working with News 20 as an eager freshman – shadowing upperclassmen and always asking questions. As a sophomore, she was selected as a live shot reporter and as a junior, she was promoted to sports anchor.
In between those roles, Simon interned in Honolulu at a news station and at WESH 2 News in Orlando. Those experiences are helping her as she constantly looks for untold stories and finds ways to integrate her love of social media and news. She plans to start her career soon as a reporter for a local television news station.
Simon offers this advice to other aspiring journalists.
“Work hard. Nothing comes easy,” said Simon. “Go above what you’re required to do, seek opportunities to exceed expectations and you’ll start seeing the results. God already has your steps ordered, you just have to do the work. I didn’t attend every party. I wasn’t at every ‘Set Friday.’ I missed some events and my resume reflects that.”
Prior to graduating in December, Simon interned at WCTV, the number one station in Tallahassee.
