WKYC News Director Julie Flynn stood before a group of Cleveland State University and John Carroll University students last week with one clear message: home is where the heart is. 

Flynn knows the meaning of that phrase better than most. Over the course of her career, she worked in cities across the country from Washington to New York, before ultimately returning to her hometown, where she now heads the news division of NBC's local affiliate WKYC.

“I’ve moved around a lot in this business, but I always found my way back to Cleveland,” Flynn told students. “There’s something special about coming home and being able to do the work you love in the community where you grew up.”

Born and raised in Cleveland, Flynn said she grew up watching the local news with her family every night, not imagining she would one day lead the same station.

Flynn explained that while technology has reshaped the news business, the foundation of the work remains the same - storytelling. 

“The future 100 percent lies in the streaming space. Viewers want a true 24/7 experience,” she said. “The days of saving a story for the 11 o’clock news are gone. Now you have to be instant – urgency is everything.”

She said local journalism in particular remains crucial to communities and continues to build trust in a way that national outlets cannot.

“This is a legacy station, and we’re seen as the community station,” Flynn said. “Our foundation is breaking news and investigative stories, but we also know people want those heartwarming stories too.”
 

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Students were given a full tour of WKYC’s newsroom and studios, experiencing a behind-the-scenes look at one of Cleveland’s leading news stations.

The tour included the lower-level newsroom, where producers and reporters gather stories throughout the day and the lively studio sets used for newscasts and programming. 

Students were able to walk through the same space they see only through a screen and hear how each department plays a role in shaping their daily news cycle.
 

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For many, the sets themselves were a highlight. Students stood on the stages for a variety of programs while staff explained the production process.

For students in attendance, the tour along with Flynn’s reflection on her career left an impression.

“I had a really great experience at WKYC," said Kirsten Kimbler, a Cleveland State senior and journalism major. "It is always great to hear from someone that was once in your position and see how they moved up in their career.”

Kimbler added that the modern studio space made the experience feel more tangible. “It’s so open and modern and I like that you can see the staff working behind the news anchors,” she said.

Flynn closed the event by reminding students that local newsrooms serve as both a lookout and a neighbor to the people they cover.

“When Northeast Ohio is going through trying times, we want to be there for our viewers and the communities we serve,” she said. “That’s the kind of responsibility you’re stepping into.”
 

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For the students who left the newsroom with a different perspective, it was a reminder that journalism is not only alive, but thriving – and that there is a place for the next generation of reporters to continue telling Cleveland's stories.