Oyster Bay High School students got a firsthand look at the fast-paced world of television news during a recent virtual master class with Lauren Victory, a 2007 OBHS graduate and current CBS News Chicago reporter.

Joining the class virtually from her Chicago studio, Victory spoke with students in Alex Dollin's TV broadcasting class and members of the school's Bay News Now reporting team, sharing insights about her career in broadcast journalism and recounting memories of her time at Oyster Bay High School.

Victory, who graduated as salutatorian of her class, traced her career path from Oyster Bay to Northwestern University, where she gained valuable hands-on experience at the college's television station. She went on to work at stations in smaller markets in Connecticut and Vermont before landing her current position at CBS Chicago.

Throughout the session, Victory offered students an inside look at the realities of working in television news. She discussed the demands of a newsroom, balancing an unpredictable work schedule with family life and the importance of approaching interviews with sensitivity, particularly when covering difficult stories. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the skills, experience and persistence needed to build a career in broadcast journalism.

The conversation also brought Victory back to her own high school days. She recalled delivering the morning announcements from the principal's office, an early taste of broadcasting that left a lasting impression.

"We didn't have Bay News Now, but we did have the morning announcements. I got to stand in the principal's office with a microphone and say, 'Good morning, Oyster Bay!' It was my favorite thing to have my best friends tell me that I jolted everybody out of their seats," she recalled.

Victory also took a virtual tour of the OBHS's state-of-the-art broadcasting studio. Impressed by the professional equipment and opportunities available to today's students, she expressed good-natured envy that such a facility didn't exist during her high school years. She encouraged students to make the most of the resources and hands-on experience as they explore careers in media.

For Dollin, the opportunity to connect students with a successful alumna working in the industry made the experience particularly meaningful.

"It was so valuable having a working TV news reporter speak to our students about her career path and share some stories from her time in the industry," Dollin said. "The students asked some very thoughtful questions, and I think they came away with a greater understanding of the job of a news reporter."

The district extends its thanks to Victory for taking the time to share her expertise and reconnect with the next generation of Oyster Bay broadcasters.

Click here to watch Bay News Now’s coverage of this masterclass: