It’s 2:30 A.M., and Samantha Pastorino’s alarm clock is already buzzing. Most of Omaha is still sleeping, but Pastorino is already brewing her morning coffee and applying her mascara when she leaves for work at 3 A.M.
By 5 A.M., Pastorino stands in a bright television studio, calm and confident before the camera. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) alumna is the morning traffic anchor for KETV NewsWatch 7’s “First News,” and by sunrise she has already helped thousands of commuters navigate their day.
Pastorino, who grew up in Omaha and graduated from Millard South High School, didn’t initially know journalism was her path. That changed during her junior year of high school, when the COVID-19 pandemic opened her eyes to how vital reporters are.
“You have a responsibility to the public, a responsibility to the community,” she said.
When she started college, Pastorino wasn’t always set on studying journalism, but it was at UNO that she gained the confidence and connections to turn her ambition into a career.
Finding Her Place at UNO
At UNO’s School of Communication, Pastorino discovered the supportive environment she had been looking for.
One of her professors, Karen Weber, became a mentor, encouraging Pastorino to join UNO’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and linking her with real-world writing opportunities.
Under Weber’s guidance, Pastorino earned her first byline writing about a local ice cream shop in Papillion, the first time she saw her work published in the community.
“She’s the kind of teacher who just throws opportunities at you that she knows you need, even if you’re scared to pursue them,” Pastorino said.
Embracing those challenges helped her shed her initial shyness and find her voice as a young professional. Once graduation approached, she knew UNO had been the right place to launch her future.
“Sam is one of the most delightful students I have gotten to work with in the 30 plus years I’ve been teaching. She has a sparkling personality, an incredible work ethic, and a deep desire to learn,” said Weber. “She always took every opportunity given to her, from mentoring, to working with nonprofits, to internships. She is doing a marvelous job at KETV, and it is so fun to get to watch her.”
Seizing the Opportunity
In her junior year of college, Pastorino seized an internship opportunity that would launch her career. A professor posted an announcement on Canvas, UNO’s online class platform, about a “College & Community Connect” event at KETV. The local TV station was inviting students to tour the newsroom, meet professionals, and learn about internships, with free bagels as a perk.
Pastorino almost talked herself out of going, but then she remembered her promise to never shy away from opportunities.
At the event, KETV’s general manager described how interns could shadow reporters and even produce their own stories. Pastorino felt a jolt of determination. When the session ended, she walked straight up to the general manager, résumé in hand. She soon secured an interview with KETV’s news director and landed the internship.
Setting foot in a major newsroom for the first time was daunting, and Pastorino felt in over her head that initial day. But she reminded herself that the worst-case scenario was simply discovering the job wasn’t for her, and the best-case scenario was realizing she absolutely loved it. Given the chance to produce a news piece, Pastorino pitched a story idea and hit the ground running.
After reporting her very first segment on air, she knew this was what she was meant to do.
“After my first week, when I did my first story, I knew that I wanted to be a journalist, and that was when it really clicked for me,” Pastorino said.
Telling Omaha’s Stories
After graduating from UNO in December 2024, Pastorino was hired full-time at KETV as an on-air journalist. Now her days begin before dawn. By 5 A.M. she’s on air with live traffic reports, and after the morning newscast, she heads out to chase the day’s stories across the city. Pastorino might profile a local hero one day and investigate a hard-hitting issue the next, but every assignment shares a common purpose.
“I love the stories that shine a light on something, whether it’s for better or for worse,” she said.
Her Omaha roots have given Pastorino a built-in network and extra insight on the job. When news broke at her former college job one day, she already had a source to call for quick information, an advantage of reporting in her hometown.
“If you’re lucky enough to report in a city that you grew up in, it gives you an upper hand by a million,” Pastorino said.
Whether it’s helping with a morning commute or shining a light on a problem that needs attention, Pastorino’s goal is to make a difference. UNO taught her to see the city itself as an extension of the classroom, and that lesson continues to guide her.
