Mychaela Stepney and Isaiah Fields join Good Morning Washington to talk about their MJT-TV Excel experience. (7News)
WASHINGTON (7News) —Behind every compelling news broadcast or live sporting event is a team of dedicated storytellers, producers, and technicians. For young people across the Washington, D.C. area, breaking into the broadcast industry can feel daunting, but local nonprofit MJT-TV Excel, Inc. is working to put youth directly in the driver’s seat of their own narratives.
On Good Morning Washington, two standout participants—Mychaela Stepney and Isaiah Fields—shared how hands-on experience in the program has helped shape their career paths and bolster their confidence.
Putting Youth in the Driver’s Seat
MJT-TV Excel provides D.C.-area youth with comprehensive, real-world training across various facets of the newsroom and production world, from journalism and political town halls to creative media workshops.
For Stepney, who joined through the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, the environment offered a rare level of creative freedom. During her time in the program, Stepney collaborated with D.C. Youth Poet Laureate Malakai Byrd, exploring creative expression while gaining behind-the-scenes industry exposure.
“A lot of other programs… can over-manage their expectations for youth, and that can inhibit creativity,” Stepney explained. “Through MJT-TV Excel, I got the chance to see my peers express themselves in ways many might not have thought possible.”
Now entering her freshman year at Northwestern University, Stepney plans to pursue integrated marketing communications after discovering her passion through networking with industry buyers and broadcast professionals.
From High School Classroom to the Broadcast Booth
Isaiah Fields got his start with MJT-TV Excel four years ago as a sophomore at McKinley Technology High School after his English teacher encouraged him to get involved. Today, Fields attends George Mason University and works with their sports broadcasting team, setting his sights on covering high school athletics and Major League Baseball in the District.
Fields credits the program with instilling the rigor and attention to detail required in professional sports broadcasting.
“You really have to be in-depth with your preparation,” said Fields. “Showing up unprepared makes you expendable. MJT taught me how to put together spotting boards and do the labor-intensive work ahead of time.”
To learn more about MJT-TV Excel, reach out to Mo Johnson at (202) 450-1078or email him at mjtexcel@comcast.net.
