Shayla Vize: Broadcasting from coast to coast

Mohawk graduate and award-winning broadcast professional Shayla Vize ’07 has built her career in Canada’s top newsrooms.

By Emmett Steele ’22 (Journalism)

Over the last 15 years, Shayla Vize ‘07, graduate of the Journalism - Print & Broadcast program at Mohawk College, has had the opportunity to work in both editorial and technical roles in television and digital newsrooms across Southern Ontario. Her career has led her to play a part in live broadcasts from locations across Canada and the United States.

While her work has seen her travel far and wide, Shayla built the foundations of her career close to home. “After graduating from Mohawk College with an advanced diploma in journalism and communications media, I landed my first job in the television industry as a video editor at CBC Toronto,” said Shayla. “After just three months of working the overnight sports shift at CBC, I landed my first full-time editing position at CityNews Toronto.”

A few years after starting her position with CityNews, Shayla was promoted to senior editor at CityNews and Breakfast Television.

“I worked on numerous special projects including an award-winning fashion documentary that was honoured by the New York Festivals Awards,” said Shayla. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to travel with Breakfast Television for live on-location broadcasts in Florida, California, Hawaii, and aboard a Disney cruise ship.”


 

Shayla’s career has been full of incredible moments and accomplishments spread across thousands of miles, but the feat she’s most proud of is one that has had the biggest impact.

“While working at CityNews, I co-created an award-winning, bi-weekly news information series called The Inside Story,” said Shayla. “It featured stories of resilience and inspiration. The series was honoured by the Radio Television Digital News Association, the Canadian Medical Association and was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards.”

“The project is something I will always hold close to my heart because it impacted people in a positive way,” said Shayla. “We consistently received messages from viewers and journalists across the country who said they connected with our stories. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing that.”

After nearly 15 years in television broadcasting, Shayla recently accepted a position with the Public Relations department at McMaster University. “I’m able to use my experience creating dynamic and informative stories as well as my technical background to serve the Faculty of Health Sciences,” said Shayla.

Working hard is nothing new for Shayla. She’s been committed to her work since her college days, going above and beyond as a student.

“I took full advantage of every opportunity at Mohawk,” said Shayla. “I worked in The Arnie, The Cellar and in the Student Services department at the Stoney Creek campus. I was a two-sport athlete playing on both the women’s basketball and soccer teams and covered sports news for the College’s newspaper.”

Despite all her hard work as an athlete and a student employee, Shayla never forgot her main reason to attend Mohawk: to get an education and build a better future. “The Journalism and Communications Media Program exposed me to all aspects of media and communications and opened the door to career opportunities in a wide range of fields,” said Shayla.

“My education played a significant role in helping me get my foot in the door and land my first job in the television industry, and fifteen years later, I’m still using skills I learned as a student to help me succeed as I change career paths and move into the world of public relations.”

Through her career, Shayla has accomplished great things and learned many important lessons, which she hopes to share with the next generation of broadcasters and journalists.

“As you enter the workforce, always remember that although change can be hard, it is what makes you grow,” said Shayla. “Never shy away from the opportunity to seize change with a positive attitude and an open mind. The first piece of advice I received in the industry was something I’ll never forget, ‘Be kind to everyone because the intern you sit with today could one day be your boss.’”

This originally appeared in the Spring 2022 online InTouch magazine.