Full Sail Stories

As a TV news producer at 6ABC in Philadelphia, four-time Emmy-winning Full Sail graduate Danny Chebanenko spends his days building stories from the ground up.

“I produce our 4:30 p.m. newscast,” Danny explains. “Throughout the day, I find all the stories that go in the newscast and write all the scripts the anchors deliver on air.”

From editorial meetings to finalizing visuals and scripting before airtime, Danny’s role blends writing, producing, and decision-making in a fast-paced environment. “It literally takes all day just to find all the elements, write the scripts, and then make it all look pretty,” he says.

But Danny’s path into broadcast news didn’t start there, or even in a traditional journalism program.

Originally from Ukraine, Danny came to the U.S. specifically to attend Full Sail after learning about its Music Business degree program while researching universities. “From a young age, I always liked music… but I don’t have any talents in terms of playing any instruments or singing,” he says. “So I started discovering that there’s a whole different side to the music industry, like marketing and sales and all these business aspects, and that led me to Full Sail.”

After moving to the U.S. and beginning his studies, a major shift happened.

During an on-campus internship in broadcast television, Danny found himself drawn to the world of production. “I was like, I really like this TV aspect of it,” he recalls. “I got to do segments incorporating music and my music business knowledge, and I really enjoyed it.”

After graduation, he leaned into his newfound passion and applied for roles in news, eventually landing at WESH 2 News in Orlando. “That’s how my news career took off.”

From there, his career followed the typical rhythm of the broadcast industry – moving markets, gaining experience, and taking on new opportunities. After several years in Las Vegas, Danny made the jump to Philadelphia, where he’s been with 6ABC for four years.

Today, his role goes beyond traditional news production. In addition to building daily broadcasts, Danny works on entertainment segments and special projects, including red carpet interviews and major industry events.

Over the years, that work has put Danny face-to-face with major names across entertainment, including Billy Porter, Chelsea Handler, and John Legend. “I’ve interviewed so many celebrities,” he says.

For Danny, those moments are exciting – but they’re still part of the job. “It’s still work,” he says. “It’s not just all fun and partying.”

That balance between creativity and discipline is something he traces back to his time at Full Sail, saying, “I think the biggest thing is just how hard we had to work [in school.] It’s an accelerated program, you have to meet these deadlines, you have to meet these goals, and you have to do it now.”

That environment helped him develop the mindset he relies on today. “It taught me how to manage my time, how to be goal-oriented, like a self-starter… just getting stuff done.” Beyond technical skills, Danny also credits Full Sail with helping him grow personally and professionally. “Being pushed to network and go outside of your comfort zone… just asking questions, that really helped me with my journalism,” says the grad.

That curiosity continues to shape how he approaches his work and how he connects with others in an industry where relationships matter.

“TV seems like a big industry, but it’s really not,” he says. “Everybody knows everybody. You always want to leave a good impression – you don’t want to burn bridges.”

Now firmly established in his career, Danny says he’s found something even more valuable than success: fulfillment. “I truly feel so blessed to have found something that I love doing,” he says. “Every day I wake up, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to do this.’”