NBC Reporter Visits the Upper School

NBC 7 San Diego News Reporter Dana Williams visited the LJCDS campus to speak with the staff of The Palette, LJCDS’s high school newspaper. The two-time Emmy Award winner began by sharing her own journey into journalism, from writing for her weekly college newspaper to becoming editor-in-chief of Point Loma Nazarene’s The Point during her junior and senior years.

After graduation, Ms. Williams took a hands-on approach to breaking into the field. She grabbed her phone and “started making videos for social media,” quickly gaining traction during COVID. That initiative led to a role as a digital reporter and, eventually, to her current position as a broadcast reporter and fill-in anchor with NBC San Diego.

In a small-group setting, students had the chance to ask candid questions and hear directly from Ms. Williams about what it’s really like to work in journalism today. The conversation touched on everything from media bias and journalistic integrity to the fast pace of the 24-hour news cycle and the growing influence of social media.

Students pressed her on how news differs across platforms, prompting a discussion about the balance between strong writing and visual storytelling. Ms. Williams also shared how she writes both digital articles and broadcast scripts, giving students a clearer picture of the day-to-day work behind the scenes.

“Do your research,” she advised, encouraging students not to rely solely on social media but to build a well-rounded understanding of the news. Her message resonated with students as they reflected on the importance of media literacy and thoughtful reporting.

By the end of the visit, students walked away with not only practical advice but also a better sense of the responsibility and purpose behind telling stories accurately and fairly. As Ms. Williams put it, “Good journalists are balanced, understand the ethics of honest reporting, and seek to project unbiased information.”