Local 4-H’er shadows MSNBC news anchor in NYC
Photos courtesy of National 4-H Council: John Gabalski meets Craig Melvin, an MSNBC/NBC News anchor. Gabalski travelled to New York City last Wednesday to shadow Melvin for the day as part of 4-H’s “Day in the Life Experience.”
4-H Day in the Life connects notable 4-H alumni to 4-H youth
Craig Melvin goes over the day’s schedule with John Gabalski. The local 4-H’er participated in a rundown meeting with Melvin and the news team, toured the New York City studio, and watched Melvin’s full-hour broadcast live in studio.
Orleans County 4-H’er John Gabalski describes his trip to the NBC studios in New York City last Wednesday as fantastic.
“It was an inspirational experience,” John said.
John, 15, was selected by the National 4-H Council to take part in a “Day in the Life Experience” with 4-H alum Craig Melvin, who is an MSNBC/NBC News anchor. Melvin anchors MSNBC Live on weekdays and is co-anchor of the Today Saturday edition.
John was able to visit the MSNBC/NBC News studios at Rockefeller Center New York, and learn first-hand from Melvin what it takes to be a news anchor at a major television network.
He also got to enjoy some down time with Melvin, who treated John to lunch from the NBC Commissary.
“I had some pasta, a roll and fruit,” John said. He and Melvin then took their lunch back to Melvin’s office and discussed the work that goes into producing Melvin’s daily one-hour news broadcast. John said Melvin was also interested in learning more about his participation in 4-H, including raising rabbits.
Gabalski watches Melvin’s hour-long segment in the studio.
John is a member of the Orleans County Rabbit Raisers and Outback Orleans 4-H Clubs, and is also a member of Orleans County 4-H Senior Council. He lives in Byron with his parents, Walter and Kristina Gabalski.
John watched Melvin’s Feb. 22 broadcast live in the studio. “That was my favorite part of the experience,” John said.
He was able to watch Melvin while listening to the director through an earpiece. “It was very interesting to see how everything works behind the camera, the way they handle the cameras and the lighting. It’s pretty cool,” John said.
Melvin also gave John a tour around the offices and studios of MSNBC/NBC News. John said Melvin pointed out the office door of Al Roker, however Roker was not in his office at the time.
John Gabalski is pictured outside the studio at Rockefeller Center New York.
The “Day in the Life Experience” is part of an alumni outreach effort by 4-H GROWS to connect notable 4-H alumni to 4-H youth.
Dvon Williams, director of integrated marketing, National 4-H Council, said John’s visit to shadow Craig Melvin at MSNBC/NBC News was the first of the “Day in the Life Experiences,” which will be repeated in other regions across the country.
John is considering the possibility of a career in broadcasting. That interest in journalism and his role as a 4-H news reporter were factors in him being chosen for the “Craig Melvin Day in the Life Experience,” Williams said.
