Print Story Email Story Discuss Story (3)

Recommend ( 0 )

Related Links

advertisement

published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sebring's Dawkins heading to New York to take job for ABC's 'Good Morning America'

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- This is a story about one of Sebring's own young people. The News-Sun is thrilled to say right up front that she is one our own too.

Georgia Dawkins, 21, a senior at Florida A&M Univeristy, wrote the "Georgia On My Mind" column in the News-Sun for the last several years.

Her work speaks for itself and it has been noticed. She was honored as one the 100 most promising young journalism students in the country by the Web site UWIRE, a "community-driven service devoted to the needs of journalism students." According to its site, UWIRE's aim is to "identify and promote the brightest young content creators and deliver their work to a larger audience."

Now Dawkins is off to New York City for a summer job at the American Broadcasting Corporation's popular "Good Morning America" show.

This isn't an internship, she already did that last summer - this is an actual entry level job.

She will be working from midnight to 9 a.m. assisting producers and the on-air stars of the show, doing real work while gaining important experience.

Dawkins, who is majoring in broadcast journalism, has spent her life in pursuit of her goals.

"I've always liked to write," she said, adding that her uncle, a writer, led the way. "I started writing in the fifth grade, and knew (I wanted to do this for a living) ever since the sixth grade."

After attending Woodlawn Elementary and Sebring Middle schools, and graduating from Sebring High School -- "in 2006 at 9 a.m. at Firemen's Field" -- she went on to Florida A&M University where she became a staff writer for the university's radio station and became an editor-in-training her freshman year.

She also wrote columns, contributed to Haven Magazine, an online publication dedicated to young black women, and worked at WESH, an ABC affiliate in Orlando.

Her advice to those looking for a career in broadcasting is to follow her example.

"You have to be a stalker," she said laughing, meaning a person has to be persistent. "You have to call and network and not give up." She added that earning a break doesn't come easily, especially in this economy, and a person has to be prepared to pay their dues, that is be ready to work -- in the beginning for nothing.

When Dawkins was asked if, having landed a job in New York City, she was considering transferring to a college up there for her senior year, she reacted with horror.

"Absolutely not," she said. "My family, my hometown, my school have invested a lot in my career.

"I owe it to them to achieve FAMU alumnae status."