Danny Connolly
Digital Reporter
WCIA 3 News
Springfield, Illinois
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About
I found my passion for journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where I received my undergraduate degree specializing in Electronic Journalism and TV/Film Production. I worked a variety of jobs at the student news broadcast River Region Evening Edition all four years, advancing to Executive Producer in my senior year. I received an honorable mention from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences student awards for a newscast I produced in my sophomore year. I continued my education at the University of Illinois Springfield and received my graduate degree in Public Affairs Reporting. My internship was at WCIA. I am now a Digital Reporter for WCIA and I write content that is often picked up by other news stations.
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Education
Master of Arts in Public Affairs Reporting, 2022
University of Illinois, Springfield
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Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television, and Digital Media, 2021
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
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Electronic Journalism and Television/Video Production Specializations
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Journalism and Theater Minors
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University Honors Certificate
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Awards
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​2021 SPJ Region 5 Mark of Excellence Finalist for COVID-19 Newspaper, Magazine, and Online Coverage
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2020/2021 WSIU-TV Student of the Year Award
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2019 Honorable Mention from the NATAS Mid-America College Student Production Awards for my production of the River Region Evening Edition newscast that was broadcast on November 26, 2018
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2017 Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout
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Broadcasting and Journalism Experience
WCIA 3 News
Springfield Bureau
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Digital Reporter (July 2022 - present) I write 3 - 5 articles per day covering politics, state agencies, and the Springfield area.
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Public Affairs Reporting Intern (January 2022 - June 2022) I worked on web stories and VOSOTs. I also performed camera work.
WSIU-TV River Region Evening Edition/Late Edition/Report
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Executive Producer (2020/2021)
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Assignment Editor (2019/2020)
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Producer (2018/2019)
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Volunteer in the many roles necessary to produce a newscast including Reporter, Director, Technical Director, Floor Director, Audio Board Operator, Video Board Operator, Teleprompter Operator, Late Edition Anchor (2017-2021)
WSIU-TV (PBS affiliate)
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Traffic Editor (2019) using ProTrack software
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Volunteer Camera Operator for the 2019 & 2020 State of the State address, 2018 season of Scholastic Hi-Q, 2018 Illinois 12th District Congressional Debate, and 2019 Sounds of the Season
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Volunteer Inscriber for the 2019 season of Scholastic Hi-Q
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Daily Egyptian Newpaper (SIU)
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Volunteer Staff Reporter and Photojournalist (2020/2021)
Sample Work
WCIA Internship Package
My package about student athletes' compensation aired on WCIA on April 19, 2022
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(1:45)
WCIA Digital Reporting
Reporting Reel
Clips from some of my reporting packages from River Region Evening News.
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(1:29)
Honorable Mention
I received a 2019 Honorable Mention from the NATAS Mid-America College Student Production Awards for this production of the River Region
Evening Edition newscast on November 26th, 2018.
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(21:49)
Photojournalist/Staff Reporter
The Daily Egyptian, the weekly student-run newspaper and news website of Southern Illinois University, has the second largest circulation of any newspaper in southern Illinois. I contributed as a photojournalist and staff reporter.
Radio Feature
While most of my work has been broadcast or digital, my radio feature about SIU's arboretum aired on WSIU-FM the week of November 11th, 2019