Multimedia Journalism
Isabella Colello worked as multimedia journalist out of WWTI-ABC50 in Watertown, New York for four years. Eventually moving up to work as a the “North Country Bureau Reporter” for WSYR NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse, New York, she was solely responsible for covering news stories across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Her coverage took her on the scene of breaking news, along the Northern Border, to the Fort Drum Military Installation and more.
As an MMJ, Isabella coordinated and captured interviews, processed her own footage and edited video news packages for television broadcast and website content. She was nominated for a New York Emmy Award for her work on WSYR’s Special Event Coverage of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Upstate New York.
VETERANS VOICES:
Inspiring women in the Army
Isabella sat down with Colonel Fenecia Jackson, who was the commanding the 10th Mountain Division’s Sustainment Brigade. At the time of the interview, Col. Jackson was recognized as the only woman brigade commander at the Fort Drum Military Base.
Col. Jackson shared how she uses her leadership position to mentor and support her peers and soldiers.
This segment was aired in WWTI/ ABC50’s Veterans Voices special in November 2023.
Destination Eclipse
Destination Eclipse was a on-air special co-produced by Isabella Colello ahead of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse that crossed over Upstate New York. Local experts, community leaders and visitors to break down this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Corey Fram, the director of tourism at the Thousand Islands International Tourism shared how the community has prepared for the massive event.
Veterans voices
Christian Hughes was stationed at Fort Drum with the 10th Mountain Division right after he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
He was deployed with the 2nd Battalion, 87 Infantry Regiment to Afghanistan in 2006. Hughes served with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment to fight in the War on Terror.
However, it was during his second deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 that Staff Sergeant (R) Hughes’ life changed forever.
Isabella Colello interviewed SSG (R) Hughes in honors of Veterans Day 2023. This segment was aired in WWTI/ ABC50’s Veteran’s Voices special in November 2023.
Academy at Ivy Ridge investigation
The former Academy at Ivy Ridge was a “school for troubled children and teens” located in Ogdensburg, New York. Following its closure, the school was exposed for abusive conduct towards its students.
The school was part of the now-defunct World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS). Ivy Ridge withdrew its participation from WWASPS in the early 2000s due to system-wide abuse allegations. Ivy Ridge was investigated by New York State in 2006 for reports of child abuse and the institution officially closed its doors in 2009.
Ivy Ridge was cited in the Netflix docu-series, “ The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping,” where one of the victims visited the shuttered school and recounted her experiences.
This show surfaced many buried stories of survivors, staff and parents of victims. Isabella Colello interviewed many victims of the school following the documentary’s debut on Netflix.