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Published on November 26, 2024
Morgan Cunningham ’18 has wanted a career in radio broadcasting since childhood. Thanks to Eastern, Cunningham is fulfilling his dreams as the morning news anchor for WTIC-AM, Connecticut’s largest radio station.
Even while in high school, Cunningham was encouraged to have his own weekly show on WECS-FM, Eastern’s student-run radio station. “I am so thankful for people like John Zatowski, station manager, and other people at Eastern for encouraging and supporting me.”
Cunningham enrolled at Eastern as a communication major and continued his radio show, recalling now how faculty members like the late Edmond Chibeau critiqued his work and gave him story ideas for his radio program. “I wouldn’t be doing the morning news on Connecticut’s biggest radio station without all the people at Eastern who gave me an opportunity. At Eastern I learned about the craft of broadcasting, journalism and professional writing.”
Even before graduation he had lined up a full-time job at WTIC-AM as the overnight news anchor, working the night shift from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., six days a week. After two years of this grueling schedule, Cunningham moved to the afternoon and evening shift. Highlights included covering COVID-19, Tropical Storm Isaias and a live phone interview with Sen. Richard Blumenthal during the middle of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Since March 2022, Cunningham has anchored WTIC’s morning news, radio’s prime time slot. “I need to know a little bit about a lot,” he explained. Cunningham’s reporting emphasizes local news: “We want to focus on stories that impact our Connecticut listeners.”
On the weekend, Cunningham stays busy with his Saturday afternoon talk show, “Spotlight Connecticut.” The show stays clear of politics, law, finance and other hard news angles. “Listeners on the weekend don’t want to think about work or taxes,” he said with a smile.