In the fall of 2023, students from UNC Asheville’s Mass Communication department were given a tour of WLOS, a local ABC news affiliate serving Asheville, as part of a Career Trek offered by the University’s Career Center.
WLOS 13 provides Asheville residents with local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, and more. The entire production is written, filmed, and edited 20 minutes from UNC Asheville. Touring WLOS took them around various parts of the building, such as the studio and master control room, along with the outside to see the satellites and news trucks.
Students on the trip found their experience insightful
Junior mass communication major Finn Keil said the trip exceeded his expectations. “I particularly enjoyed the explanation the staff inside the master control room gave, as they were not only enthusiastic about explaining their jobs, but the details they provided were informative and educational,” Keil said.
Keil added, “the tour throughout the studio was very engaging, and it was enjoyable as well as informative to see each facet of what goes into broadcasting.”
The mass communication faculty who accompanied the students on the trip also had an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the broadcasting industry.
“Touring the WLOS studio allowed us to see what goes on behind the scenes,” said Sonya DiPalma, associate professor and department chair of mass communication. “We learned much about the 365-day, 24/7 production of news and entertainment that we take for granted, and got to meet the media professionals who make it all happen.”
For other students, like Brycon Rankin, a staff writer for the Blue Banner, the trip served as a window into potential career paths related to their degrees.
“Personally, I am still unsure as to what I would like to do after I graduate, so it’s beneficial to see some options, especially when I get to see these options first hand,” he said.
Rankin and fellow students found the trip instrumental in “discovering different career paths and possibilities like we were shown at WLOS. It’s important because now we have some idea of options for life after college.”
Written by Sabine Timol, UNC Asheville class of ’26.
Photos by Samantha Phillips, UNC Asheville class ’24