Reporting for WTEN in Albany:
 
New Visions: Public Communications alumnus Scott Patterson 

Scott Patterson watched as a college intern practiced after hours in the darkened news studio of WTEN-Television in Albany, where Patterson is a reporter. The intern's efforts brought back memories of Patterson's own days as a Schoharie High School senior in the then-brand-new New Visions Career Exploration: Public Communications program. As one of the first alumni of the Capital Region Career & Tech class, Patterson can't say enough about his experience.

"Through New Visions, I worked among the professionals I wanted to become," he related. "The class opened doors and helped me make connections." Patterson, who's wanted to be a TV reporter since age 10, went on to earn a bachelor's in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University and work at local radio and television stations before landing his current position at WTEN. It was New Visions, however, that the Sloansville native credits for defining his career path. 

"New Visions gives you an idea if your passion is real," said Patterson, noting that some of his classmates chose not to pursue communications in college. Based at the Times Union, New Visions: Public Communications unites students with journalism and communications professionals through job shadowing, field trips and internships that give the students a taste of their day-to-day worklife. " It's the crossing of the professional and academic worlds," Patterson related. "Riding along with a reporter, you get so much more than you can from a textbook."

The class was demanding, and teacher Ronni Kent has high expectations for all of her students. Said Patterson, "You are treated like a college student, and are expected to learn independently. No one spoonfeeds you."

"Students earn credit for four high school and three college courses, with much of Public Communications structured as a lecture/discussion format," noted Kent. "Class time is precious, and usually packed! Students must be prepared for each day's learning activities and discussion, conduct research, and are out on internships two to three days per week. There's a lot going on!" 

Patterson had to rise at 5 a.m. each day to attend New Visions, but "the payback has been tremendous. At age 25, I'm working in a much larger TV market--Albany-Schenectady-Troy--than I would be without New Visions."

Using contacts he made through New Visions, Patterson worked as a news anchor/reporter at Albany radio stations WYJB and WROW before he even graduated from high school. During summers off from college, he was a staff writer for the Times Union. As a college senior, he worked part-time for a TV station in Watertown, N.Y., and was then hired as a weekend reporter for Fox23 News in Albany. 

In October 2001, Patterson started as an overnight reporter at WTEN, "coming in at 11 p.m., covering the fires and accidents, and appearing on the morning news from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m." As of January 2005, Patterson was working days, Thursdays through Mondays, reporting for WTEN's evening news. That schedule will likely change as he moves up in the world of broadcast news. 

As for his future career, Patterson may remain in Albany, where he aspires to become a news anchor, or perhaps move to a larger media market. Whatever his path, Patterson highly recommends that high school students considering a career in communications apply to New Visions. He advises, "It's one of those rare opportunities, where, if you work at it, you can really put yourself on the fast track."

[Fall 04]