Meet Our Reporters
Brendan Bryan
(he/him)
Brendan Bryan is a communications major at Troy University and a student producer at Troy Public Radio. His favorite parts of radio are interviewing and audio engineering, but he really feels alive when he is telling stories. Born in Atlanta, Brendan grew up in Alabama, which he considers home. When he is not holding a mic and interviewing someone, you can find him outside hiking or absorbed in his favorite sport — NASCAR. By the way, he can also tell you in what creek in Alabama the one-of-a-kind Vermilion Darter is found.
Ways to connect with Brendan:
What a wonderful week!
I have been working or volunteering for Troy Public Radio for a little over a year now. We do a multitude of things at the station from weather, new spots, and The Talk of Troy which is our student podcast about the university. Only a few weeks ago, I was doing a...
Dierre Hartman
(he/him)
Dierre Hartman is a senior majoring in journalism and media studies at Jackson State University and is expected to graduate in the spring of 2025. Originally from Detroit, he grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. His passion lies in connecting art to real-life experiences in various communities through storytelling. When he’s not in his studies, you can find him recording music or crafting new designs for his clothing brand.
Ways to connect with Dierre:
Turning my dreams into reality
My time with NPR’s Next Gen Radio and the Gulf States Newsroom was fairly quick. I must say I learned so much valuable information and lessons during this amazing project. The people on the project really stressed the importance of time management, professional...
Miriam Howard
(she/her)
Miriam Howard is a Clarksdale, Mississippi, native and a recent graduate of Jackson State University. Howard studied journalism and media studies, and is pursuing a career in film and television. She’s worked for local newscasts, and in independent film production and podcasting. In her free time, Howard writes screenplays and dabbles in interior design. She’s also a trained saxophonist. Her favorite quote is “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
Ways to connect with Miriam:
Full Circle Moment
My experience with Next Generation Radio Gulf States has turned out to mean more to me than I first imagined. As a recent graduate from the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University, I spent a lot of time in film and television, but not as...
Samantha Jackson
(she/her)
Samantha Jackson is a rising senior at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. Originally from Chicago, she enjoys engaging with the communities she lives in through media, and coming up with creative ways to engage her generation with journalism. Samantha is currently a digital marketing intern at Imperial Trading Co. Previously, she was a digital coordinator/production intern for WBOK-1230 AM. Samantha feels most at home when she is on a tennis court or with her family.
Ways to connect with Samantha:
A Week of Discovery in NPR’s Next Gen Radio
Over the past week, I participated in the NPR Next Generation Radio program, and it has been an inspiring experience for me. Throughout this program, I had the opportunity to work with amazing people who motivated me to do better. I would like to express my gratitude...
Jeffrey Kelly
(he/him)
Jeffrey Kelly (he/him) is a third-year MFA student at the University of Alabama and a burgeoning freelance journalist. Through various modes of storytelling, Jeffrey’s goal is to uplift marginalized voices and showcase the beauty in the complexities of human existence. He serves as the editor-in-chief of Nineteen Fifty-Six magazine, a UA student publication focusing on the perspectives of students of color, and he previously interned at Oxford American. Jeffrey is from Birmingham, Alabama, but feels most at home wherever there’s a Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa in the fridge, Sex and the City on the TV and laughter in the air.
Ways to connect with Jeffrey:
Rediscovering my confidence in storytelling
This week with Next Generation Radio has been extremely transformative for me as a journalist. From the beginning of the week to the end, I have felt so supported, and that support has allowed me the space to learn so much about how to get to the heart of a multimedia...