A HBCU graduate April Ross, now owns WJCN TV-33 a local TV station in LaGrange, GA. Ross is extremely proud of her success, especially because she used to work at the station as an intern. Ross was a student majoring in communications at Alabama State University when she started interning at WJCN. Once she graduated in 2001, Ross started working as a production assistant and later a reporter.

In 2017, Ross was working with CBS affiliate WRBL News-3 when she encountered an incident wherein a deputy sheriff was shot. When she realized there were no reporters to cover the story, she did an exclusive live report in the area on social media.

“My news reporter instincts took over and in the absence of any TV news outlets here to report on it, I covered it on Facebook Live, which helped my social media presence to grow in excess of 15,000 followers. This was the catalyst for Bee-TV and ultimately contributed to my purchase of WJCN TV-33,” April said told ASU News.

At that point she started pursuing a business venture and started planning to deliver breaking news stories on her own television station instead of on social media. In May 2021 Ross purchased WJCN, which broadcasts 24/7 on Spectrum Cable to more than 600,000 households in 11 counties in both West Georgia and East Alabama.

April credits God for everything she has achieved in life. She also says that she is very thankful for Alabama State University which has greatly contributed to who she is now. She also doesn’t forget CBS-3’s main anchor Teresa Whitaker, who was her mentor and always saw the “star quality” in her.

“My advice to present students is that you must first work hard, learn well and work through the hard times if you wish to obtain your dreams” she said.

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