Kelsey Jean-Baptiste graduated from Ursinus College, with a degree in Media & Communications and Dance. She went on to attend Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she finished with a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism.
During her time at Columbia, she learned all aspects of journalism– writing, editing, shooting, and on-air work. At times, Kelsey found herself running through the streets of New York reporting on various stories that were assigned to her. She also had the opportunity to produce three shows, anchor, edit, and report for CJS News. The entire program spanned nine-and-a-half months, making it a crash course in everything someone needs to know about the different roles in a newsroom.
After her time at Columbia, the pandemic hit, and it was hard to find a job within the news industry. This caused Kelsey to start her own news channel.
Too Real, A Talk, was a news broadcasting series focusing on journalistic discoveries through critical social movements. She anchored, reported, shot, and edited each broadcast in New York. The show talked about crime, the Black Lives Matter movement, Zimbabwe’s political climate, and more.
One of her greatest interview stories was with Darrin Porcher, Former NYC Lieutenant, because they discussed the George Floyd murder, and policing in the city.
Almost a year later, Kelsey got a job as an Associate Producer at WBAL-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. There she produced the 10 p.m. show on MeTV Baltimore. This role taught Kelsey how to monitor multiple news platforms, gather background information to set up news stories. This gave Kelsey the chance to work in a top 30 news market, where she can write stories for a local community and learn the skill of writing in a fast-paced environment. She left WBAL in June 2021, to accept a role as a Blacksburg Bureau Reporter for WFXR in Roanoke, Virginia.
In her spare time, Kelsey loves to dance, work out, traveling and spend her time outside going on adventures. Anytime you meet Kelsey, you will be confronted with a warm smile and positive energy.
She is excited to make Blacksburg her home! Feel free to send any story ideas her way, kjean-baptiste@wfxrtv.com. If you see Kelsey, just say hi!
