University of North Texas 
Eddison Stewart, a broadcast journalism major, knew his career ambition when he applied to University of North Texas. In fact, UNT was his first and only choice. The junior has made the most of every opportunity, and it’s that mindset and focus that led him to the newsroom and behind the anchor desk.
Getting involved
After arriving on campus, Stewart immediately looked for ways to get involved. He joined Theta Chi, became Interfraternity Council president, served as marketing and communications director for the Student Government Association, and worked as a reporter and anchor for NTTV, UNT's student-run broadcast news station.
“My big thing is community,” he explains. “There’s a lot of community here at UNT. Everyone knows everyone when you’re involved.”
Those experiences helped him develop leadership, communication and teamwork skills while building his confidence. After his freshman year, he auditioned for an unpaid internship at KJTL and KFDX, sister stations serving the Texoma region, where he grew up. He earned the position and quickly distinguished himself through his professionalism and work ethic.
From the classroom to the newsroom
His work at NTTV gave him a strong foundation in reporting, but the professional newsroom pushed him further.
“To step into an active newsroom is very different than college. They didn’t take it easy on me. They had the same expectations of me as the seasoned reporters,” he says.
Stewart quickly adapted to the fast pace. His days often began around 9 a.m. with reporting assignments and video shoots before returning to the newsroom to write, edit and prepare stories for the evening broadcast.
Working alongside professional journalists, he learned every stage of the storytelling process, from developing story ideas and conducting interviews to writing scripts, editing video and reporting on camera. He was hooked. The station news director invited Stewart back during winter break and again the following summer, giving him increasing levels of responsibility with each return.
Learning the digital newsroom
The experience also exposed him to the growing digital side of news. In addition to producing television stories, Stewart learned how to create social media content to extend a story’s reach, editing longer reports into short-form videos that engage online audiences.
He discovered the power of digital with community-centered storytelling, when his coverage transformed a child’s request for a special needs fishing day into a community-wide event that drew 150 attendees. Stewart's posts generated 17,000 social media engagements, helped secure a corporate sponsor and may have laid the groundwork for an annual event.
Taking a seat at the anchor desk
This summer, his news director rewarded that growth by asking Stewart to fill-in behind the anchor desk.
The week-long assignment required early mornings, live reporting and the ability to guide viewers through multiple broadcasts. His day began at 2 a.m., with a 3:30 a.m. arrival at the studio, and his first on-air appearance at 5 a.m. He then transitioned to the station’s Fox affiliate for the 7 a.m. broadcast. He handled program reopens every 30 minutes and live cut-ins every 20 minutes before helping deliver an hour-long noon newscast.
“It was genuinely one of the best times in my life,” Stewart says. “When it was time to go live, something just clicked. This is what I’m supposed to do.”
Building a foundation
While new reporting placed him in front of the camera, Stewart credits his success to the involvement, leadership and experiences he gained at UNT.
“Getting involved and pushing myself outside of that comfort zone helped me to do that on camera as well,” he says.
Looking back on his time thus far, Stewart describes his UNT experience in four terms: set up for goals, fun, future-ready, and understanding, qualities that continue to prepare him for the opportunities ahead.