When Sydney Brown arrived at Kent State University as a first-year student from Avon, Ohio, she didn't wait to get started. She walked into the TV2 newsroom — now Kent Stater TV — and introduced herself. That instinct to show up, dive in, and tell stories has defined every semester since.
Now a senior wrapping up her journalism degree in the College of Communication and Information's School of Media and Journalism, Brown has been named a 2026 Gracie Award recipient in the On-Air Talent category for TV students — recognition from Alliance for Women in Media that honors outstanding broadcasters for their ability to connect with audiences in a way that is engaging and authentic.
For Brown, the honor is both validation and invitation.
"I'm filled with love and gratitude for this recognition," Brown said. "To see my name next to women I've looked up to and continue to view as role models is a dream.
"This award is an encouraging reminder that I am stepping into an industry that wants to pull me in and celebrate the people telling stories that matter."
The Gracie Award didn't arrive in a vacuum. It is the capstone of a college career built through years of deliberate, hands-on work inside and outside the classroom.
Brown joined Kent Stater TV in her first year as a multimedia journalist and anchor. Over the following three years, she held positions as Flashcast Producer, Broadcast Managing Editor, and News Director, reflecting both her on-camera talent and her commitment to leading a student newsroom.
Her reporting has covered public health issues and the local effects of federal policy changes, including the impact of tariffs and cuts to SNAP benefits in Kent and surrounding communities. A feature story on the Kent Lions Club's annual carnation fundraiser earned an honorable mention from the Broadcast Education Association.
FOX8 Internship Provides Valuable Opportunity
The experience she built inside Franklin Hall was amplified by opportunities she pursued beyond campus.
In 2023, Brown secured an internship at WJW-TV Fox 8's New Day Cleveland, one of Northeast Ohio's most-watched locally produced morning programs. Her work there was strong enough to bring her back as a freelance producer in Summer 2024.
This spring, she returned to Fox 8 for a third engagement, this time as a news intern on the morning show, watching how a professional team transforms breaking news into broadcast journalism in real time.
Student Media Experiences Pay Off
She also traveled to New York City to participate in the International Radio and Television Society's Building Future Media Leaders Workshop, connecting with industry professionals and peers from across the country who share her drive to shape the future of media.
"I got involved right away," Brown said of her time in Kent State's student media programs. "The hands-on experience has been invaluable."
That philosophy extends beyond newsrooms. Brown was selected for Kent State's Flash Fellows leadership cohort, participated in service trips to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore supporting people experiencing homelessness and hunger, and volunteered with Flying Horse Farms, a SeriousFun Camp for children with serious illnesses.
She is a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority and was honored to represent Kent State Student Media on the 2025 Homecoming Court — though true to character, she spent Homecoming morning co-hosting the live broadcast of the parade rather than riding in it.
Her academic record has drawn recognition from multiple organizations. She holds the James W. Faulkner Scholarship from the Central Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, the Akron Press Club's John S. Knight Memorial Journalism Fund scholarship, the Robert Sorino Jr. Scholarship, the Beth Ann McClain Award, the Walton D. Clarke Scholarship, and the Community Foundation of Lorain County Scholarship. She was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism honor society that recognizes the top ten percent of students in journalism and mass communication programs nationwide.
Challenging Curriculum Sets Path for Success
Courses in Broadcast Reporting, Interviewing and Data, and Ethics in Media and Journalism gave her tools she reaches for in the field.
"My professors continue to challenge my perspective of the industry and see new potential in me as a journalist," Brown said. She points to active listening as one of the most important skills she developed: "Truly listening to your interviewee, to get better answers and more personality on camera. From there, you need to be analytical in choosing which pieces of an interview matter to propel your story."
Brown will walk at Kent State's May 9 commencement ceremony before beginning her professional career as a multimedia journalist at WKBN in Youngstown, a Nexstar station. She heads to the newsroom with a reel that reflects four years of real reporting, real leadership, and real community connection.
For students considering a journalism degree, Brown's path offers a clear message: the opportunities are there. The hands-on training, the student newsroom, the faculty mentorship, the industry connections — they are available from day one to anyone willing to walk through the door.
"I am confident in my career path," Brown said, "thanks to CCI's Journalism program, which provides real-world experience and knowledge daily."