Serghino René joins Banner as staff writer

The Bay State Banner recently named Serghino René as its new staff writer.

“I’m excited and feel fortunate to have such an opportunity,” said René. “The Banner holds strong roots in the black community and it is my intention to keep those voices alive.”

As a general assignment reporter, René is responsible for local news in Boston and Cambridge, including stories on politics, business and the immigrant community. René will report directly to Executive Editor Howard Manly.

“Serghino is a welcomed addition to the Banner,” Manly said. “He is a great student of journalism and has unlimited curiosity. We expect great things from this young man.”

René, 24, was born of Haitian immigrants in Boston and moved at an early age, with his family, to New Bedford. Ambitious and disciplined, Rene said that by the time he turned 12 years old, he knew he wanted to become a journalist.

“I remember watching an edition of the WCVB-TV evening news,” Rene said. “It became clear to me then that journalism was something that I wanted to do. It was my calling.”

René started writing for his high school newspaper and became the first New Bedford High intern at the New Bedford Standard-Times where he reported on local and community news.

He graduated from NBHS in 2001 and attended Boston’s Emmanuel College, becoming a member of the first co-ed class. An all around student and leader, he participated in student government, wrote for the school paper and captained the school’s track & field team each of his four years.

René also interned at WCVB-TV Channel 5 and produced his own thirty-minute segment for the newsmagazine CityLine.

After graduation in May of 2005, René worked in public relations and advertising while freelancing for the Bay State Banner.

In addition to his work at the Banner, René is an assistant track & field coach for Emmanuel College.

René also anchors “Banner Reports,” a four-minute segment that appears every other Wednesday on Neighborhood Network News (NNN).