Less than three weeks after classes came to a close for the 2023 Newhouse Master’s Broadcast and Digital Journalism Graduate students, one student began his career as a professional.
Karl Winter, the multimedia journalist, is the NBC 26 Neighborhood reporter covering Titletown and the Green Bay suburbs of De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon and Bellevue, Wisconsin. Raised in a household that prided itself on kindness, integrity and having parents as role models in the way they interacted with others, has left a mark on Winter, he said. Without hesitation, the traits he has mastered from Newhouse have carried over into his day to day work.
As a student-athlete at Pepperdine University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism before attending Syracuse to pursue his Master’s degree, Winter continues to bring an energy and spirit that remains to be an edge of competitiveness as a reporter. Winter says being flexible and curious, working around others in thinking ahead is important at the next level.
“We’ve got some good competition in the size market that I’m in,” Winter said. “Watching what they do drives us to be better and make sure we present something unique to the audience that makes them want to watch us over our competitors.”
The drive comes by no surprise for the former Orange Track and Field star who headlined Syracuse University Athletics this past year for becoming the eighth man in program history to break four minutes in the mile. Winter crossed the line at 3:59.25 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston. An incredible accomplishment that keeps Winter’s feet moving, running as much as possible without competing collegiately.
“To now be done is abrupt, but thankfully, I have found good places to run here,” Winter said. “I have reached out to some people to try and find training partners, being somewhat consistent. I have been able to get out the door and run either every morning or in the afternoon.”
Winter has kept up with the mileage in case he wants to race. He may not be in the same shape of training if he were competing at the division one level, but has maintained a strong foundation of fitness working through the next stages of his running career.
However with Winter’s innate background on both sides of the track and news studio, his skill set has the potential to be used for a different type of talent.
“One opportunity that I do have is calling the WCC Cross Country Championships in California in October,” Winter said. “I have called a lot of sports in my broadcast career but running is not one of them. To be able to call my own sport at my alma mater (Pepperdine University) where the WCC Championships are this year, would be fun and hopefully that opportunity comes through.”
Winter broadcasted multiple Syracuse University athletic events and hosted ACC Network studio shows throughout his time at Newhouse. “Talking about journalism and sports, both of those things are things where you need to be able to talk to people, to interact with people to understand people to be empathetic and I tried to do that when I was on a team and now in the industry,” Winter said.
“The opportunities that you are given, the people you have the privilege to meet and the professors you have the privilege to learn from, it’s invaluable what you are able to do in one year,” Winter said. “While it seems like a challenge at times, as it is a challenging program especially as a student athlete, it builds character and it molds you into a great journalist and great person if you are willing to get out of it what you put in. Looking back now at a year at Newhouse, I wish I could do it all over again.”