For Devin Turk, Maryland-College Park ’14, broadcast journalism is more than the typical 9-to-5 job — it’s what inspires him to get up every morning and report stories relevant to the people around him.

As a recently-hired news reporter for NBC in Fort Myers, Florida, Turk will be joining a renowned team of journalists at the top station in their market.

With degrees in both broadcast journalism and government, Turk’s expertise in the field has dated back to a weather show he did with his school in the first grade. He also shares the profession with his father who reports on weather in Baltimore.

An integral facet of Turk’s professional development goes back to his role as the vice president of communications in his chapter as an undergraduate in 2013.

“Being in charge of a group of diverse individuals taught me a ton about leadership, responsibility, accountability, working with others and how to get things done,” Turk says.

In addition to this role, Turk points to the recruitment process as another experience which gave him the tools needed to be a successful journalist.

“In recruitment, you are constantly reaching out to new people and learning about what they are passionate about,” Turk says. “Because of this experience, I feel like I can speak to anyone about anything!”

Through these experiences, Turk landed his first job out of college as a news reporter with WHSV in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At WHSV, Turk covered local news and politics by scoping out his own stories and projects.

Now that Turk is making the move to the Sunshine State, he still reflects on the professional development his chapter gave him, some of which is not as tangible as a perfected resume or job-interviewing practice any organization can give.

“Being in a fraternity helps you learn how to speak with a wide range of people and gives you very unique perspectives on things,” Turk says. “I am able to identify with a lot of different people.”

With this skillset in hand, a story Turk covered on a local school assignment controversy reached the international news level with his work even featured on CNN.

Despite this success, Turk would not be where he is today if he did not have the passion he has for news journalism. For him, it is about the stories he reports on which make all the difference.

“I have so many friends who have good jobs who hate what they do and count down the minutes until they leave,” Turk says. “For me, it’s the opposite. I can’t wait to come into work and see who I meet today or what story I’ll get to tell.”

Follow Turk’s Facebook Page to stay up-to-date on his success.