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Sia Nyorkor
Weekend morning anchor and multimedia journalist at WOIO Cleveland 19 News
Sia Nyorkor, BAJ'00, weekend morning anchor and multimedia journalist at WOIO Cleveland 19 News
“I’m originally from Indianapolis. I went to the School of Journalism when there was one designated journalism school. I graduated in 2000, and nine years later, I decided to go to Columbia University for my graduate degree, which is where I got my master’s of science in journalism.
In those nine years before I got my graduate degree, I worked as a producer in public television and radio. I did longform pieces, public radio, magazine pieces — mostly off-air work behind the scenes. I’ve always enjoyed talking with people, and I’ve always been very curious. I felt like I could somehow, with my storytelling, do some advocacy and help people.
Currently, I work at the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. I’m the weekend morning anchor. I’m also a multimedia journalist, so three days a week I’m in the field and two days a week I’m in the studio anchoring. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. When I’m in the field, I pitch stories and set up interviews. Sometimes I’m shooting and editing my own interviews, while also posting them to our social media platforms. When I’m in the studio, typically, I’m helping produce the newscast. I’m writing teases, anchor intros, helping reporters with their scripts, making calls to verify information — trying to update so we can have the most current newscasts.
In 2019, I was very lucky to be able to start doing some longform work that focused on the African American community in northeast Ohio. We were having conversations about race and social justice. We were having those conversations and trying to put different voices in our newscasts and in our storytelling. It was very gratifying and uplifting. I hope to be able to continue to do that work.
I would tell (journalism) students now to create their own platforms. When I was coming up, you had to wait for someone to give you an opportunity to put yourself out there. Now, you don’t have to wait for a station, newspaper, or radio to give you a platform. You can create your own brand. I encourage people to keep creating, keep writing, keep going, and keep honing your craft.”
Written By Erin Stafford
Photos By Erik Hunter