students in broadcasting studio

students in broadcasting studio

students in broadcasting studio

Students in the Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting program participated in a Zoom session with CBS News National Correspondent David Begnaud ahead of their preparation for the Student Television Network’s Fall Challenge.

The Fall Challenge is a national competition that has become an annual tradition for BMB, where students are provided with a prompt by STN and then allowed six days to create a news package or short film.  

Begnaud, who began his career in television journalism while he was still in high school, encouraged students to not focus on the technology, but rather on the story, “What is your human purpose?   

“That's what I want you to take away, I want you to leave today with,” Begnaud noted. “And I want you to say to yourself, what is it that sets my soul on fire? If you don't have the answer, it's okay. But get about the business of finding it. Because it is either this or it is something else. And that is what will make you happy. That is what will make you work without worrying about money. That is what will make you successful.”

The news correspondent also offered the students tips they could use in their current competition. 

“The first thing you’ve got to do when you find a story is to figure out what it is that interests you,” Begnaud advised. “Because if it doesn't interest you, you're going to have a hard time making it interesting to me.” 

Junior Ryan Marr appreciated this advice. 

“One of the hardest things is figuring out where to start,” Marr explained. “Mr. Begnaud showed us that you just have to start and to have the confidence to just go off and talk to people to learn their stories.” 

Submissions will begin airing on BMB’s Midweek Update on Nov. 15.