April Alumna of the Month for Georgetown University

"The Georgetown program emphasized writing in all classes and projects. As we all know, writing is the foundation of every aspect of media- making it the most crucial skill."

Lezla Gooden (G'16) Connect with her on IG, Twitter & LinkedIn. Current Job: On-Air Reporter/ MMJ for KERO/23ABC News in Bakersfield, California.

How did you get your job? I applied through a company I respected and (really) wanted to work for which is Scripps Media. It has a reputation for valuing its workers and investing in their careers; this is vital to me.

What does your day to day look like? Pitching stories, writing, editing video (with Final Cut) and delivering news live on-air, connecting with the community, conducting interviews pre-recorded and live, posting stories for web and social media platforms.

Why did you choose to attend Georgetown’s Journalism program? After my undergraduate studies, I wanted to refine my journalism skills before fully emerging into the field. It was right before the 2016 Presidential Election, and I knew I wanted to work and learn under veterans in the media- many of whom I had the privilege to study under at Georgetown.

How has your degree from the Journalism program helped you? My degree assisted me in honing and perfecting my writing AP style skills. The Georgetown program emphasized writing in all classes and projects. As we all know, writing is the foundation of every aspect of media- making it the most crucial skill.

What is the class that you took at Georgetown that helped the most after you graduated? I would have to say my Ethics class taught by Professor Carole Feldman. This course truly enriched my critical thinking skills and has assisted me in making sound ethical decisions, in many complicated stories. I have found myself using Professor Feldman's tools to defend my ethical choices in and out of the newsroom.

What one piece of advice would you give current students? I would encourage them to value and absorb as much as possible from each professor and class-- as I did. Also, as one is applying for jobs, whether it's in the industry or not, I recommend graduates vet their prospected bosses, as hard as they vet you. It is crucial because they can influence your future professional career.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the communications industry now? It’s probably the most obvious one, having to fact check everything on the internet, social media, and information from officials.

What surprised you most about working in the industry that you do now? Everyone is connected in some way, and we are all on the same team. So, when one of us fails, we all do.

What's a recent accomplishment you'd like to share? Collectively speaking, since I have been with 23ABC News, approximately 12 of my stories have been picked up by national networks. Some of those include--CNN, ABC NEWS, Inside Edition, Yahoo, Washington Post, and many others. FUN FACT: I was the first reporter in the country to break and interview the AREA 51: They Can't Stop Us All Facebook Creator, Matty Roberts. Another accomplishment just occurred recently. As many across the country are facing the COVID-19 outbreak, millions of journalists are responsible for covering it, like me. I was tasked to cover the first COVID-19 related death in our area and another competitor allegedly confirmed the victim’s death first. The competitors allegedly confirmed the passing with someone who was not a family member and reported wrong and hurtful information. I have never been big in competing with other stations, because we all have the same job. This act by the other station was ruthless and forced me to find the family. I finally spoke to a family member who only spoke Spanish, and my Spanish is not that great, but I was able to confirm the passing and get ACCURATE information. The family shared they were devastated and angry with the other media outlets. According to the family, I was the only reporter to deliver their story accurately. After another 24-hours, I reached out to the family again. They shared, "because of my honorable, accurate, and thoughtful reporting" they gave, me the exclusive interview to speak to them. This was another milestone in my Journalism career, and a reminder to own my skills even if they are different from others.

What do you do for fun? TRAVELING, oh how I miss it. I enjoy reading a variety of books—from mystery, history, and self-help. In addition, to decompress, I watch and listen to everything Disney and Disney Animation. I also have a passion for voiceover work and truly enjoy bringing life to various projects. If you have anyone who needs a voiceover artist or would like to connect on a project, let me know!

What is one of your favorite news tools? It’s not the fanciest tool, but it's accessible to everyone with a cellphone; it's the timer. I use a timer for everything. I time myself when editing videos and writing articles. I even use it when doing my makeup!