Willie Daniely III, a reporter at WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina, will give the keynote address at the GSPA Spring Awards on March 24, 2025, at the UGA Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

Daniely’s passion for journalism started at a young age. As a high school student, he attended multiple Georgia Journalism Academy summer programs (now the Summer Media Academy). These and other experiences led him to study journalism at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication where he graduated in 2021.

"Having been in the shoes of an aspiring high school journalist, I could not be more excited to come back to Athens and speak to a group of young journalists and the people guiding them along the way," Daniely said.

While at UGA, Daniely served as a mentor and counselor for the high school academies. He also had the privilege to work on numerous projects, including “UGA 60th Anniversary of Desegregation Special” and “The First Five: 50th Anniversary of UGA Football Integration.” He also held various positions at the campus news station, Grady Newsource.

After graduating in 2021, Daniely moved to Toledo, Ohio where he worked as a reporter/MMJ at 13abc, before moving to WRAL in Raleigh in 2023.

On the station’s website, Daniely states the following as his news philosophy: “To me any story big or small can make a difference. It's important to give a voice to the voiceless, hold the stakeholders accountable, and tell stories that make a lasting impact on the area all while maintaining my integrity.”

Registration for the GSPA Spring Workshop and Awards is open through March 12. Visit www.ugagspa.org/workshop-awards for details.