Suffolk University seniors Breana Pitts and Andrew Scheinthal are spending this semester juggling classes with late nights of work and 5am wake-up calls – and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks to a partnership between New England Cable News (NECN) and Suffolk’s Studio 73, Breana and Andrew are getting a taste of live reporting in a segment called “Suffolk in the City” that airs on the network’s Morning Show.

Unique opportunity for students

Following a rigorous audition process, NECN selects two Suffolk University students each semester to act as the main “Suffolk in the City” reporters. The students work on weekly story pitches with NECN producers, tape person-on-the-street interviews, edit their footage into tv-ready packages, and participate in live Q&As with NECN anchors.

“'Suffolk in the City’ provides an extraordinary opportunity for our broadcast students,” said Robert Rosenthal, chair of Suffolk University’s Communication and Journalism Department. “Through our partnership with NECN and ‘The Morning Show,’ Suffolk students are reporting live and producing entertaining pieces seen throughout New England.”

Current student reporters relish the experience

• Breana Pitts is a Massachusetts native who hopes to follow in fellow local girl Maria Menounos’s shoes as an entertainment reporter. Breana came to Suffolk undecided about her major, but quickly discovered she could put her outgoing personality and stellar communication skills to use in broadcast journalism. Since she started reporting for “Suffolk in the City” in July, Breana has covered topics from celebrity crushes and the Emmy Awards, to her personal favorite segment on fantasy football.

• Andrew Scheinthal, a broadcast journalism/theatre double-major, came to Suffolk by way of Houston, Texas. His broadcast inspirations include Matt Lauer, Charlie Gibson and Anderson Cooper. Andrew leans toward the harder news topics, and has done “Suffolk in the City” segments on the economy, the closing of the Borders bookstore chain, and the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Andrew also knows how to have fun, covering the Patriots, the Bruins, and even a piece on the plausibility of aliens.

They are supported by Katie Sampson, also a senior majoring in broadcast journalism, who has an impressive resume and covers occasional ‘Suffolk in the City’ segments.

“We fully recognize what a unique, fun, incredible experience this is,” says Andrew. “Now when we graduate and go on job interviews, we’ll know what we’re talking about.”

“We’ve put together multiple news packages, and done live interviews. We’ve also dealt with unexpected issues like equipment malfunctions and getting splashed by a puddle on camera,” explains Breana. “We know what we’re capable of, and we’re so grateful to NECN for giving us the opportunity to show what we can do.”

Learn more about Studio 73 and the Communications and Journalism Department.