Just about five years ago, Megan Willgoos, a former assistant Editor in Chief for The Hawks’ Herald, graduated as a journalism major from the Feinstein School of Humanities, Arts and Education here at Roger Williams University. She now works at The Rhode Show, live every weekday from 9 AM to 10 AM on WPRI 12, as a producer and an on-air reporter. 

Being a producer and reporter for The Rhode Show means that she “…basically chooses what order everything goes in every single day of the show.” She tells everyone on the team which hosts are holding each segment, writes all the introductions for those segments, and creates questions in which to ask the live guests. 

She told me that this was always a dream of hers, especially during her time at Roger Williams since she would watch The Rhode Show regularly, so she believes that she is in the right spot because the position she is in is “…just amazing.” Between being a writer and producer and then still being on and off camera has let her gain a huge appreciation for the whole teamwork aspect of journalism and television. 

Before The Rhode Show, Willgoos used to cover a lot of breaking news which gave her the ability to feel more comfortable with being on the spot. More recently, she had the opportunity to go out on the “What’s Happening” for a news segment that happens on Saturdays. She told me “…what’s so great about my position is that I can do both and try out a little bit of everything, but in terms of just producing live segments, I think that is what brings the most energy to the show and where our hosts can really show their true personality.”

In terms of The Hawks’ Herald, Willgoos told me that she “…joined The Hawks’ Herald way too late. I wish I had joined it sooner, but I think I joined it my junior year, and then became the assistant Editor in Chief for my senior year.” She has found it important that through her time learning how to talk to live guests on the show, to always listen to what the person has to say. “I think that one of the most important things that you are learning at Roger is that when you’re interviewing someone, you have to make sure that you are listening to the person instead of just moving on to the next question.” She explained to me that in order to get a strong interview, you have to really fully understand what the person you are talking to is saying and dive into more of a conversation than an interview. 

For plans in the next five years, Willgoos said that she really wants to focus on her family. “I’m hoping that I will have at least one kid by then with my fiancé and will be married, but I still definitely picture myself being in Rhode Island and I wouldn’t be mad if The Rhode Show works out for me and maybe becoming a host one day.”