Congratulations to HTC/J-School senior Zanovia Criss, the 1st OU/WOUB journalist to land a job via new Tegna hiring partnerships

When Zanovia Criss graduates in April from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, she will already have a job waiting for her as part of TEGNA's Producer-in-Residence program. This program is designed to develop graduating college seniors into talented and skilled broadcast and digital producers for TEGNA newsrooms across the country. The program includes a two-week producer boot camp followed by a two-year, full-time producer position at a local station. Criss will start in June at WCNC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Criss connected with TEGNA working as a journalist at WOUB Public Media and participating in the WOUB Wednesdays program that gives former WOUB students the opportunity to have virtual conversations with current students and other alumni.

“I have benefited from WOUB and live shows by learning to produce TV that is viewed by the public on PBS each night. I am working under real time pressures and deadlines and have a responsibility to deliver a quality, ethical newscast,” said Criss.

Criss also practiced her TV news producing skills in the School of Journalism’s producing and newscast practicum courses.  "One of the joys of teaching is watching students find their passion. TV news producing is not for everyone, but as a longtime producer, I could see Zanovia had all the skills . . .as she tried her hand at producing in our newscast practicum class,” said Electronic Media Professor Mary Rogus.  “It was a pleasure to help her focus and polish her skills in a producing tutorial that she helped design,” said Rogus.

That producing tutorial is part of Criss’ HTC journalism program. “I've enjoyed being in the Honors Tutorial College studying journalism and the opportunity to personalize my education to my journalistic interests. The tutorials allowed me to explore topics of interest like producing, market research and social media analysis and then have one-on-one conversations with the professor about the industry,” said Criss.

Criss has been an excellent representative of the Honors Tutorial College and the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism. 

“From entering her work in national competitions to her time assisting us in recruiting future students, Zanovia's personality, zeal, and experience has her on a winning path,” said Dr. Victoria LaPoe, HTC/Journalism director of studies.  

Criss is also part of the WOUB Mentoring Program, which started in January 2021.  Her mentor is CNN Content Producer Danielle Sills (BSJ, 2009).