Willie Daniely III (ABJ ’21) speaks at Georgia Scholastic Press Association Awards

Willie Daniely III, a 2021 alumnus who is currently a reporter at WRAL-TV, shared his early career insights with a group of middle and high school journalists and their teachers at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) Spring Awards on March 24, 2025. Nearly 330 were in attendance at the workshop and awards luncheon held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

“Finding and honing in your voice is so important in this field because everyone’s journey is unique and it’s essential to acknowledge that your perspective matters,” Daniely said. “You each have different stories, experiences that shape your point of view and passions that drive you to get involved in this field of journalism, and I think it’s important that you don’t shy away from those perspectives that set you apart and make you unique.”

Daniely’s passion for journalism started at a young age. As a high school student, he attended multiple Georgia Journalism Academy summer programs (now the Summer Media Academy). These and other experiences led him to study journalism at Grady College.

“Having been in the shoes of an aspiring high school journalist, I could not be more excited to come back to Athens and speak to a group of young journalists and the people guiding them along the way,” Daniely said.

While at UGA, Daniely served as a mentor and counselor for the high school academies. He had the privilege to work on numerous projects, including “UGA 60th Anniversary of Desegregation Special” and “The First Five: 50th Anniversary of UGA Football Integration.” He also held various positions at the campus news station, Grady Newsource.

After graduating, Daniely moved to Toledo, Ohio, where he worked as a reporter/multi-media journalist at 13abc, before moving to WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2023. 

On the station’s website, Daniely states the following as his news philosophy: “To me any story big or small can make a difference. It’s important to give a voice to the voiceless, hold the stakeholders accountable, and tell stories that make a lasting impact on the area all while maintaining my integrity.”

GSPA promotes the understanding and practice of journalism among Georgia middle and high school students by providing skill development opportunities and networking. GSPA has evolved to encompass all forms of scholastic media, including broadcast, literary magazine, news magazine, news website, newspaper and yearbook. Grady College has been home to GSPA since 1928.

Authors: Sarah E. Freeman, freemans@uga.edu; Stephanie Moreno, s.moreno@uga.edu