Alumni Spotlight – Magdalena Doris

“Why not you?” “Someone has to get the job, why not you?

If there’s one thing that has stuck with Magdalena Doris over the years, it’s those wise words from one of her former professors at Montclair State University.

The 2012 broadcasting alumna, now a reporter at CBS, always knew that’s what she wanted to do since watching TV news as a child, but gives a lot of credit to her professors for her success.

“Some of my favorite courses have been taught by adjunct professors—those who are working in the field and have the ability to help you get your foot in the door through internships,” Doris says.

By the time Doris was ready to graduate, she had three broadcasting internships under her belt, at some big-name stations, including WWOR my9tv, CBS’s “Inside Edition” and WABC TV. Her internship at WABC helped her land her first paying job there as a teleprompter and desk assistant.

“I find that many people who studied journalism don’t have much experience with cameras, studio work or editing,” Doris explains.  “Those classes [at MSU] gave me a leg up and helped me land my first one man band reporting job.”

Doris also credits her senior seminar class for preparing her for the “real world.”
“It got us really prepared to present ourselves to employers in the best way possible, and have the confidence to go for it!” Doris says.

Prior to her current role at CBS, Doris was a reporter and anchor for News 12 Bronx/Brooklyn for 3.5 years. Having the opportunity to work in the best news city in the world is an accomplishment that she would have never even dreamed of.

“MSU Broadcast professors instilled in me that no job was too small,” Doris recounts. “That lesson has brought great things, being willing to always get your hands dirty, work hard and meet new people opens doors like you wouldn’t believe.”

And despite how glamorous TV news seems (Doris debunked this rumor), she explained that it’s the power to affect change that keeps her excited to go to work every day.

“Work hard and never think you are above any job,” Doris would tell her undergraduate-self. “You bring skills that are unique to you. So don’t try to imitate anyone else.”