Best of BC Alumni: NY1 Television Producer Dylan Campbell ’18

Dylan Campbell ’18 starts her day as a producer for local 24-hour news channel NY1’s morning show in the wee hours of the morning. She begins by chatting with her anchor and ends the day prepping for longer-term segments. A typical day could include “doing interviews with a local mask maker or reaching out to experts on airflow ventilation to do a story about Uber rides and coronavirus,” says Campbell. In between, she has a string of tasks—preparing “chat” segments, pitching story ideas, and working with the anchors to write and edit five to seven segments daily. That might faze any young journalist. But Campbell, who graduated with a journalism degree, is unflappable as she rattles off her to-do list in a short video, “What to Expect as a Morning Producer.”

She says she is grateful for the faculty in the Journalism and Media Studies Department, including Professor Emeritus Paul Moses, Professor Anthony Mancini, and Associate Professor Ron Howell. “They taught me so much about being a good journalist but were also a great support system,” she says. “They gave me the guidance I needed as a student, as an editor, and as a young journalist building a career. All the articles I wrote, internships I got, and jobs I took wouldn’t have been possible without their support.”

During her time as a student, Campbell built a résumé and took advantage of the tools offered to all Brooklyn College students. Additionally, the journalist joined The Kingsman newspaper team, where she worked as an editor. “My experience on the paper was incredibly formative, and I highly encourage students to join if they have any interest in working in journalism at all. The only way to get good at journalism is to do it,” Campbell says. “Make mistakes. Learn. Grow your portfolio. I promise the kinds of stories you write and the conversations you have with editors at the college papers will prepare you for the workplace.” 

As is true with most college students, creating a résumé and portfolio that can catch the eyes of employers can often be a challenge. One of Campbell’s favorite resources was the Magner Career Center, where she got help from Director Natalia Guarin-Klein and Assistant Director of Career and Employer Engagement Michael Sarreo.

“Without them, I wouldn’t have had the tools to stand out in an application. Their résumé feedback, mock interviews, career coaching, and belief in me is what made it possible for me to start a career,” says Campbell. She ended up getting a spring internship at WNYC as an associate producer and then a job at the wellness website Everyday Health. Those experiences helped lead to her full-time position at WNYC and from there she moved to NY1.

As for advice to new graduates, Campbell recommends exploring opportunities and experiences out of your comfort zone. “Be open to taking something different and learn as you go. Also, please, please, please don’t feel bad if your first job is not your dream job. It takes time to learn and build a career,” she says. “You aren’t stuck anywhere. Just be patient and keep growing.”