Making the news his dream

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Seth Doane has the enviable job of traveling throughout the world, experiencing lives and telling their stories to 8 million young people.
Not bad for a 23-year-old who received his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism in 2000 from the University of Southern California-Los Angeles.
Doane is news anchor for Los Angeles-based Channel One News, daily broadcast into 12,000 American schools.
"It was really my dream job," Doane told 800 Hubbard High School students during a Wednesday assembly after he visited Mineral Ridge High School.
Doane is in the Mahoning Valley as a guest of Youngstown State University and participates in today's YSU/Tri-County Journalism Association Press Day.
His advice
In an informal style that students relate to, Doane told them to persevere to reach their goals.
"There is nothing between you and what you want to achieve," said Doane, who earlier was autographing his photo as if some sort of heartthrob.
Before being hired by Channel One a year ago, Doane said he applied for the job four times and was rejected. He was hired on the fifth attempt.
"Perseverance paid off in the end," he said in making a point with his audience.
Most memorable times
Of his assignments, a trip to Afghanistan during the continuing war has been his favorite.
"The entire world was focused on the issue," Doane said, noting he appreciates getting other people excited about it.
Besides Afghanistan, he has broadcast live from Cuba.
He explained how he followed Los Angeles gang members who were deported to El Salvador. Because they didn't speak the language and were not familiar with the culture, they developed a ganglike culture in that country.
A former network intern, Doane recalled talking with a woman whose son had died of a drug overdose. Because he and her son were about the same age, the two have bonded.
Doane's advice to students: Find someone you admire and be willing to do anything to learn.
Doane realizes that his anchoring job at Channel One won't be the end to his broadcast journalism career.
He plans to work for the student news outlet for a few more years and then look for a job with the networks, where he can use their resources and have a long period of time to research stories in depth.