Beret Leone ’18 tells Minnesota’s stories at WCCO

“I'm live every morning, rain or snow, for the five a.m. morning show with WCCO.” 

The words of Beret Leone ’18 point to one of the few predictable parts of a reporter’s day: showing up. Before most Minnesotans have poured their first cup of coffee for the day, Leone is already on the ground somewhere in the Twin Cities, ready to tell the story unfolding there. 

In her career, Leone has covered everything from devastating tornadoes and unsolved crimes to some of Minnesota’s most difficult breaking news. No matter the assignment, the part of reporting she values most has remained remarkably consistent: the people who trust her to tell their stories.

“It might be cliche, but it really is an honor to be trusted with what could be somebody’s best day or worst day,” she says. 

On air

There has been no shortage of challenging news in recent months in Minnesota. 

“This has been the most wild year of my career with national eyes on Minnesota—from the political assassination of Melissa Hortman and her husband to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and protests during Operation Metro Surge,” Leone says.

While most Minnesotans experienced these stories through a screen, Leone was onsite with WCCO, speaking directly to those impacted and witnessing the devastation firsthand. 

“I was one of the first people on scene at Annunciation. That was really tough. It's one of those things you don't expect to have to report on, or it's always another community,” she says. “When it's your community that you live and work in, it hits you on a different level. Annunciation forever changed me.”

Not every story draws national attention, but Leone brings the same care to local stories, knowing that even seemingly small problems can have a significant impact.

Earlier in her career at KTTC, an NBC affiliate in Rochester, Leone recalls covering a story where residents were not getting their mail delivered—including medications. Her coverage drew attention from Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, who resolved the issue. “It is always cool when you see a solution to an issue that a community is facing because of something you reported on,” she says.

She also covered the unsolved murder of a Winona baby found dead in the Mississippi River wrapped up with an angel figurine. “A family found her floating on the river, and it rocked the community. A decade later, those who I interviewed were deeply moved by this baby,” Leone says. She interviewed the family that found the baby, spoke with Winona’s sheriff at the time, and visited the gravestone that the community placed for the baby’s funeral. 

“It was really meaningful to be a part of keeping that story alive,” she says. Leone also saw how advances in technology and genetic genealogy made solving the case seem possible. “You just needed the right missing puzzle piece,” she says. 

Years later, in 2026, a woman pleaded guilty in the case. Leone doesn’t claim credit for the resolution, but she recognizes how rewarding it is to see the closure of a story, even years later. 

Live from Bethel

Long before Leone was reporting live at 5 a.m. or investigating stories that would remain with her for years, she arrived at Bethel unsure exactly where her interests might lead.

“I came to Bethel with a lot of uncertainty about my future,” she says. Leone knew she liked people and theater but was unsure where those passions would intersect. 

She took a reporting class and something clicked. “My professor, Scott Winter, really made me feel like I was good at something and that I had a gift. He was such an encouragement and cheerleader for me,” she says. Leone discovered she wanted to pursue broadcast journalism.

As her direction came into focus, Leone found room at Bethel to explore. “I would have been lost at a bigger school. I really loved Bethel’s size,” she says. “I was able to do all the things I loved, like performing in theater, even though theater wasn’t my major. That was a huge draw. I had options at Bethel.”

Leone wrote for The Clarion, Bethel’s student newspaper, and studied abroad in New York City during her junior year while interning with Playbill.

“It was the most amazing semester. I think I really grew up during that time, too,” she says.

In addition to studying journalism, Leone was also building the TV broadcasting skills she would need to land a job, including creating application reels. In TV news, applicants typically submit a reel: a short video montage that shows how they report, present on camera, and tell a story. To make this happen, Leone and fellow graduate CeCe Gains ’18 created the Royal Report, a newscast at Bethel. 

“We had this idea, and we had so much support from the media productions department,” she says. Her reels were pivotal in landing a job at KTTC in Rochester right after graduation.

It’s a core part of Leone’s love for Bethel. There was space to create opportunities and people willing to help make them possible.

That same freedom to explore transformed Leone’s faith, too. “There were so many ways to grow in my faith. Chapel wasn’t required, for instance, but if you wanted to go, it was there for you. It really made you make your faith your own, and I definitely did that,” she says. 

Bethel’s faith community became the foundation of lifelong friendships for Leone. “You know when you have friends who don’t share the same faith as you?” she says, “And then you have friends who do? It’s just different.” Leone found genuine connection with other women who loved the Lord. Her core group of women became roommates who are still in touch today despite their wide range of pursuits.

Still telling stories

From her theatrical presentation and improvisation skills to her ability to observe, listen, and empathize, Bethel prepared Leone in ways she still recognizes today.

Just as important, Bethel shaped the kind of person she wants to be while doing that work.

“I think about Bethel’s core values—truth seeker, learner, salt and light—I mean, I use those every day.” She remembers seeing those values embodied from her first moments on campus.

On move-in day, students rushed to her family’s car, grabbed boxes and belongings, and carried everything inside. At the time, Leone remembers joking that she felt like a celebrity as students chanted her name. Years later, she understands the moment differently.

“It’s such a powerful picture of being the hands and feet of Jesus,” she says.

Today, that posture influences the way Leone approaches the people she meets while reporting. Whether she’s covering breaking news or the opening of a local restaurant, she recognizes that the person standing on the other side of her microphone has entrusted her with a moment that matters.

“I try to remember that this is someone’s moment,” she says. “This could be somebody’s highlight of the week or the most difficult moment they will ever live through.”

So before the camera starts rolling, Leone takes time to connect, help people feel comfortable, and listen.

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