CBS News Miami gets a "kidcaster" for a day in honor of World Children's Day
MIAMI - Monday marks World Children's Day and what better way to commemorate it than to hear from young people.
Thanks to Nickelodeon Our World, UNICEF and Jack and Jill of America, a Miami-Dade teen got to spend the day at CBS News Miami.
Eighth-grader William Aristide is the CBS News Miami 'kidcaster.' His excitement could easily be seen in just the first few steps inside the studios.
On his to-do list was to anchor a mock newscast, which he did beside our Marybel Rodriguez.
William who likes, basketball, swimming and watching wrestling already knows what he's interested in. To help lay the foundation, he got a sit down with CBS News Miami President and General Manager Kim Voet.
William says, "I want to interview, like a sports interviewer."
William also got to punch buttons and pull levers in our Control Room to experience first-hand what it takes to run a newscast from behind the scenes.
He said, "That's cool, I like that. That's actually cool."
We also introduced him to the dozens of journalists who work in front of the camera and behind the scenes who help bring news to your televisions daily.
It's this moment with CBS News Miami anchor Jim Berry where William got a dose of reality.
Jim explained some of the rigors of TV news. "Punch in at 9, leave at 6, that ain't gonna happen ok. You got to work later, go to work early. You may have plans and there's breaking news, you may have plans drop those plans and get the story. "
Then it was time to flip the tables.
With an interest in journalism, and being an official 'kidcaster,' title William came ready to pitch and execute his own story idea about an issue concerning children his age. He says, "The pitch was how to keep teenagers and kids safe when they go out of their houses... kids that were there didn't feel safe either."
To help carry this out, we enlisted the help of Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel Pratt.
William asked, "I wanted to ask a couple of questions as to how we can keep teenagers safe when we go out?"
The chief answered, "That is very important for them to not travel alone. Safety is better when you have a body system will you have someone that is walking alongside you or I'm traveling with you headed to travel in pairs."
The following is the article he wrote about his experience with CBS News Miami:
Journalist in the Making "William Thomas Aristide"
by William T. Aristide
Anxious and excited are the words that describe how I felt when I walked on the set of CBS Miami. It seemed so surreal. All I could do was smile. Meeting CBS Miami's President and General Manager Kim Voet, Executive Producer Impacting Communities Tania Francois, Anchors Elliot Rodriguez and Marybel Rodriguez, and Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel Pratt was a phenomenal opportunity. Adding to my eventful day was having a conversation with the legendary Co-Anchor Jim Berry who has paved the way for past and future journalists such as myself.
A Special Thank You
This article is a special thank you to CBS Miami, for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to explore the world of journalism in real time. Being a CBS Miami 'kidcaster' on World Children's Day gave me the opportunity to witness first-hand the journalists' hard work, dedication, and service. It was also interesting learning about all of the other important individuals that provide support to make the many newscasts that appear each day become a reality. Thanks to the support of Nickelodeon Our World, UNICEF, and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., I was able to see the thrilling world of my future career in journalism.
Putting in the work
I anchored a mock newscast alongside Marybel Rodriguez. I learned that when you are doing a serious story, you should also be serious in your delivery.It took a great deal of work and practice to prepare me to speak as a kidcaster to the world. I was nervous and very excited at the same time. Having the opportunity to have a candid conversation with CBS Miami President and General Manager Kim Voet was an experience that I will never, ever forget. I was captivated when touring the control room, punching buttons, and pulling levers which provided me with a hands-on learning experience in the complex process of bringing news to television screens. What a process! The experience I had at CBS News Miami was every kid's dream to be seen and introduced to the world as a future journalist and young man of service.
Investing in Future Journalists
From this amazing experience, I look forward to becoming an intern one day. My goal is to become a college scholarship recipient in the field of journalism and provide service to CBS Miami throughout my high school and college years. After speaking with Kim Voet, Jim Berry, and Tania Francois, I have several universities to consider attending to pursue a career in Journalism and Communications. I like Howard University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University. I will continue to get excellent grades and continuously study for the ACT/SAT to obtain the highest scores possible. Most importantly, I will continue to provide service to the community through Jack and Jill of America, Inc., of which I have been a member since I was four years old.
The World of Journalism
I was elated to chat with, Jim Berry, the co-anchor of CBS Miami. I learned about work schedules, colleges and received an eye-opening explanation of the challenges of television news. Mr. Berry advised me to always be prepared and on standby to cover a story at any time. I remember he stated, "the world of journalism is a commitment, tireless effort, dedication, and flexibility."
Valuing safety
I am very appreciative of the golden opportunity to pitch and execute my own story idea, addressing the safety concerns of teenagers and kids when they are away from their homes. The story idea is my thirteen-year-old reality. Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel Pratt spoke about the importance of safety and the need for a buddy system to keep myself and others safe while away from thome. She provided vital information, especially about the buddy system when you are out in a large crowd. I putthat tip into action last week when I went to the mall with some of my friends. This experience as a kidcaster has peaked my desire to become a journalist in a major market like CBS Miami. It has also given me encouragement to mentor future KidCasters and lead them in the direction of pursuing their dreams in broadcasting.
Once again, thank you to CBS Miami for leaving me with an experience of a lifetime. I look forward to the continued pursuit of my reality in the world of journalism.
