Naperville student loses bid for 'Today' reporter

"Today" may not have turned out as Jack Hennessy had hoped, but tomorrow is another day.

The Naperville fifth-grader was not chosen as the NBC "Today" show's Kid Reporter contest winner Thursday, but he said he loved just being part of the show as one of the final four contestants.

"Knowing that doesn't happen to a lot of people my age ... it was really special to go on the show," Jack said.

The 10-year-old initially entered the contest by submitting a one-minute video about his garden and how he's going green. His entry was chosen from among thousands around the country to be in the top 16, then the final four.

Last week he and the other three remaining contestants interviewed actress Marcia Gay Harden about a children's book that will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Viewers saw the interviews Monday and voted for their favorite young journalist. More than 40,000 votes were cast.

The Hennessy family found out the results late Wednesday night, and the winner, Deidra Shores from Memphis, was announced on live television Thursday morning.

"(Jack) was a little sad but he knows it was going to be a longshot to win that," mom Wendy said. "He knows how hard it is to drum up all those votes, and he's grateful for the experience. He had a blast."

Despite not being chosen as the Kid Reporter, Jack has still won a Carnival cruise for his family and has plenty of stories to share with his Ss. Peter and Paul classmates about his trips to New York and meeting the likes of "Today" show stars Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry.

"Everybody was really nice and fun to have around so I didn't have a favorite," Jack said. "They were all just too nice."

As to whether reporting is still in Jack's future, Wendy said it's at the top of his list, though she cautioned it's a little early for a final decision.

"He loved it," she said. "He loved being in front of the cameras. He's always been inquisitive, that's always been in his nature."