By Pat Kondas, American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Public Affairs
During his junior year in high school, Aiden Greco decided he wanted to be a journalist. Now, just a few short years later and after an internship with the American Red Cross, he is living his dream as a television news anchor. But the Red Cross still runs deep in his DNA and he remains committed to the organization’s humanitarian mission.
Aiden’s journalism career started in 2020 when he became a Public Affairs intern with the Red Cross while in college. As an intern, he did some interviewing and wrote stories, but his favorite job was editing video for distribution to the media. Immediately after graduating, he was hired by KWGN-TV in Cheyenne as a reporter and quickly worked his way up to anchor where he is responsible for vetting reporters’ stories and writing and delivering daily news broadcasts.
Aiden says his internship with the Red Cross was great preparation for a news anchor, especially the hands-on experience with interviewing, writing and video editing.
“Now I interview people regularly and write articles all the time,” he said. “So, looking back, getting that experience at the time was invaluable. Building ideas in my head and getting to a final project — that was huge.”
In his role as news anchor, he loves doing stories about the Red Cross. “Even though I don’t have as much time to volunteer, I can be kind of active. It’s nice to be able to still interact and help to get the message out that the Red Cross helps.”
“Working in the media, you see a lot of harsh realities of the world,” he said. “It’s really cool to see that there are still dedicated people in the world like the Red Cross helping those in need. In these times of turmoil and hardship, there’s so much to run away from. As journalists, we run to a home fire with a camera to do our job, but the Red Cross runs toward the fire to help the people inside.”
Aiden says he gets some interaction from the public in response to stories about the Red Cross, asking how they can help or how they can volunteer. Aiden responds by telling them to just do it.
“There’s no reason not to. If you have the time, do it. It makes you feel good about yourself and it’s towards a one hundred percent good cause. You can’t go wrong.”
Aiden is just getting started on his chosen career path, but he is already being recognized for the quality of his work. Earlier this year he received two first place awards from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters for Best Reporter and Best Weatherman. “I guess they liked my enthusiasm,” he said.
When asked about his progress from being a Red Cross intern to reporter, to anchor, and to receiving WAB awards, Aiden said, “It’s been a heck of a journey.”