Ensights Magazine

William Joy

Alumni Focus: William Joy '10

Nancy Keen Palmer '03
The passions and professions of our alumni ​represent the lasting impact of our school’s mission statement. Read on to see ​how William Joy '10 ​is using his talents to the fullest to be a positive contributor to society. 
What motivated you to pursue sports broadcasting at Ensworth? What else were you involved in on campus?
When I started at Ensworth, I was a die-hard sports fan, talked too much, and was a bit of a know-it-all. I like to think that the know-it-all part has faded... but at the time, it was a perfect combination for being a sports columnist working for the school newspaper, The Ensider, which gave me an outlet to voice those thoughts and improve my writing. When Ensworth began broadcasting games, I asked if I could be an announcer, and with help from some faculty members, we were able to set that up. We kept pushing the limits, adding graphics and an intro, and even creating a broadcast club to have weekly ‘talk shows’. I also ran on the cross-country team and played soccer.
 
Did your sports broadcasting experience influence your college trajectory?
Absolutely! On top of working for the paper and broadcasting, Ensworth’s Capstone program allowed me to intern at WSMV-TV, the NBC station in Nashville. I gained a passion for journalism and was drawn to the University of Missouri, home to the world’s oldest (and best!) school of journalism. It also headquarters IRE, or Investigative Reporters and Editors, and is one of two universities in the country that own a commercial television station. 
 
What are you up to professionally these days?
Right now, I’m a reporter at KMBC-TV, the Hearst-owned station in Kansas City, MO. Before this, I was working as a reporter for WAVE-TV in Louisville where I covered everything from the Kentucky Derby to the passing of boxing legend (and childhood idol) Muhammad Ali. I was fortunate enough to win two Emmys in my two years: one for an investigation into ambulance response times and the other for a feature on how hospital ER staff in “Room 9” were on the frontlines of the city’s rise in violent crime. Before Louisville, I worked at WCSC-TV in Charleston, SC. There, I reported on the Masters, shark hunting, and I was the first reporter on the scene on the Emanuel A.M.E. massacre. 
 
When you think of Ensworth and “experiential learning” what comes to mind?
Experiential learning is learning by success/failure and the best way to learn. Journalism, like many other professions, can’t just be taught in a classroom. It is learned through opportunities like the ones I had with the broadcast club, announcing football and basketball games, writing for the paper, and with my Capstone. Experiential learning teaches you troubleshooting, which is a skill coveted by any employer.
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Red Gables Campus (K–8)

Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 383-0661

Frist Campus (9–12)

Nashville, TN 37221
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Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.