WSKG Reporter to Join Ithaca College as First Reporter-in-Residence

By Reina Martin, November 3, 2026
Partnership with Roy H. Park School of Communications creates new professional opportunities for students across the school.
Aurora Berry reporting on Ithaca Porchfest.

Aurora Berry, WSKG managing editor, reports from Ithaca Porchfest.

Photo courtesy of WSKG.

For students in Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications, the line between the classroom and the newsroom is about to get a little thinner.

This fall, WSKG Managing Editor Aurora Berry will join the Park School as Ithaca College's first reporter-in-residence, bringing a working public media newsroom into the heart of one of the nation's leading communications schools. Through a new partnership between Ithaca College and WSKG Public Media, students will have opportunities to learn alongside a professional journalist, develop stories with faculty mentorship, receive feedback from media professionals, and potentially see their work reach audiences across New York and Pennsylvania.

The announcement comes as voters head to the polls on Election Day, underscoring the role local journalism plays in informing communities and strengthening civic engagement.

Working from WSKG's new office in Park Hall, Berry will continue covering Ithaca, Tompkins County, and the surrounding region while engaging with students and faculty and offering an inside look at the daily realities of professional journalism. 

"WSKG's news team brings in-depth, independent reporting to our coverage area,” said Berry. “Our small but mighty news team strives to hold powerful people and institutions accountable, and to build understanding and connection in our communities.” Her presence on campus will give students regular exposure to the reporting process, from developing sources and verifying information to covering breaking news and producing stories for a regional audience.

“Our small but mighty news team strives to hold powerful people and institutions accountable, and to build understanding and connection in our communities.” 

Aurora Berry, WSKG managing editor

The reporter-in-residence program builds on the Park School's longstanding commitment to experiential learning. Students already gain hands-on experience through award-winning student-run media organizations including The Ithacan, ICTV, and WICB, where they report, write, edit, and produce content across print, digital, audio, and video platforms. The new partnership adds another layer to that experience by creating opportunities to connect classroom learning with the standards and workflows of a professional public media organization. 

“Experiential learning is such a big part of what we do here in Park,” said Belisa González, interim dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications. “This partnership is such a great opportunity for our journalism students to learn from a professional in the field. Journalism is pivotal for the future of our democracy, which makes this partnership even more consequential for our students and WSKG. Putting our students' skills and knowledge to the test for stories they care about is the best way for them to learn and grow before entering the job market.”

The collaboration also extends beyond journalism. Students and faculty working in television, film, photography, audio, and other media disciplines will have opportunities to explore collaborative projects with WSKG. Multimedia stories developed under faculty supervision may be pitched for consideration by the public media organization, while photography, video, and drone footage produced by students could also be considered for use across WSKG's television and digital platforms.

"Journalism is pivotal for the future of our democracy, which makes this partnership even more consequential for our students and WSKG. Putting our students' skills and knowledge to the test for stories they care about is the best way for them to learn and grow before entering the job market.”

Belisa González, interim dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications

"Professors and supervisors will work with students to pitch ideas or projects directly to the WSKG editorial team," said Christine Dempsey, chief content officer at WSKG. "If a pitch is greenlit through our standard review process, WSKG leadership and producers will collaborate closely with Ithaca College faculty to provide direction and feedback aligned with our station's content and broadcast standards. We believe there is a lot we'll learn along the way during this partnership, and WSKG is excited to give students a true professional experience with a public media outlet. We look forward to highlighting exceptional student work across WSKG's platforms."

Projects selected by WSKG will be reviewed using the same editorial standards applied throughout the organization's news operation, giving students experience working within a professional editorial process while receiving guidance from both faculty and industry professionals. The collaboration creates a potential pathway for student work to reach audiences throughout WSKG's 21-county service area in New York and Pennsylvania.

"This move ensures we remain at the heart of local discourse while tapping into the fresh perspectives and energy of the faculty and students at Ithaca College." 

Chris DiRienzo, president of WSKG Public Media
Aurora Berry reports from the Webb Sigler debate

WSKG Ithaca managing editor Aurora Berry (center) co-moderates a New York State Senate District 52 debate.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening local journalism, supporting civic engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of media professionals. By combining the professional expertise of a regional public media organization with the creativity and energy of Ithaca College students and faculty, the collaboration aims to expand community-centered storytelling throughout the region.

"We are thrilled to deepen our roots within the college community," said Chris DiRienzo, president of WSKG Public Media. "This move ensures we remain at the heart of local discourse while tapping into the fresh perspectives and energy of the faculty and students at Ithaca College."

As WSKG's Ithaca managing editor, Berry covers issues affecting Ithaca and the surrounding region. Her reporting has explored topics ranging from school budgets and housing issues to local government, public policy, and community affairs. Through the reporter-in-residence program, students will have a unique opportunity to observe that work firsthand while gaining insight into the vital role journalism plays in informing communities and strengthening civic life.

The partnership also supports WSKG's efforts to expand local reporting throughout its coverage area while providing Ithaca College students with new opportunities to develop professional skills, build portfolios, and contribute to stories that matter across the region.