The OICB Radio & TV Career Tips Blog

The Challenge of Creating Talent in the New Media

Jodi Franks

Marketing Director/Social Media Coordinator

The Ohio Illinois Center for Broadcasting

Cincinnati Campus

Since we've waded into the waters of a brand new year and are looking forward to all our new class starts in January. I wanted to take a look back and revisit articles that may give current and potential students things to keep in mind as they take those first steps toward becoming new broadcasters.

Our industry has changed dramatically. Amazing changes. Scary Changes. Changes that have expanded our industry on a global scale, and leveled the playing field. In some cases, demolished the playing field.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be revisiting content and posts that will hopefully inspire you the same way it has inspired those who read them for the first time and carried that inspiration all the way to graduation and beyond.

I want to give a special thanks to the person who helped me understand that social media, creating compelling content, and the power of blogging isn't just for the young folks. Until I started to work with you, "tweeting" was a sound that birds made.

Dave...you rock.

Once you’ve signed the paperwork to become a student with the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, you have made the decision to become a Broadcasting Professional. Everything you do from that moment forward shapes who and what you will become in this industry. Simply sitting in a studio, or turning on a camera does not make you a good broadcaster. Five years ago, hours of daily show prep would set you apart from the competition, but what does it take now?

As a young broadcaster, you have the challenge of learning how to master multi-media. Even working for a radio station, you need to be able to shoot, edit, and upload video. In addition to website updates, there’s content generation, Facebook, Twitter, and Podcasting, just to name a few.

Our industry has gone through tremendous change during our time in a bad economy. Television and Radio Sales, while still a very lucrative field, has the challenge of trying to come up with innovative ways to grab coveted advertising dollars from businesses who are working with half or less of what their advertising budget may have been 5-10 years ago. What that means for “talent” is more commercials, more music and “less” you. You now have the challenge of finding a way to be topical, informative, and connected with your audience in as little as 30-60 seconds at a time.  

What kind of talent you will be will be determined by the extra things you do to connect to your listeners/viewers, and the advertisers who target that audience.

• Do you have a Facebook Fan page?
• How active is your Twitter account?
• How many times a week do you blog?

Those are just 3 things that are at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to social engagement. While there are still those out there who believe that Social Media is an impersonal way to connect, a hassle, or just too much trouble to understand.  I maintain they are missing out on an excellent opportunity to connect with people on a much deeper level. In the end, Social Media is as much about raising up others around you than it is about promoting yourself.

Yesterday I came across this great article from Radio Ink Magazine that I hope you can take the time to check out.  It may seem ominous in the first couple of paragraphs, but pretty inspirational at the end: Here’s What’s going to Happen to Radio.

Lastly, I wanted to share another article from Radio Ink from last February. I’m interested to see how you feel about both articles. Both are excellent, thought provoking pieces about the evolution of our industry: RADIO EXEC SAYS "SUCKERS INVEST IN PANDORA"

If you're ready to take that first step toward your dream of working in the broadcasting industry, we're here to help.

Schedule your campus tour today or submit an application here.

The Ohio Illinois Center for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

The Formula for Your Success

 

Terry Wilson

Career Services Specialist

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting

Cincinnati and Columbus Campus

 

“Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 

As a student with the Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting, you will also be working with one of our (5) Career Services Specialists. These are seasoned veterans from the Broadcasting Industry who lend their expertise to each student to help best prepare them for landing their first job.

 

Terry Wilson, who works with current students and graduates at our Cincinnati and Columbus locations, took some time to highlight the changes within our placement services department. From your first day of class, through the completion of our program, their goal is a partnership with you to help achieve your dream of working in the broadcasting industry.

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting has a strong commitment to improving our service to our students, and over the past twelve months, our Placement Department has evolved into a more effective Career Services Department to underscore our commitment.

The primary emphasis has always been to find first opportunities in the broadcast industry for our graduates, however with the 900-hour curriculum, members of the system-wide network of OCB placement specialists saw opportunities to better prepare our students for the workplace.

First was an acknowledgement that many individuals at each campus contribute industry contacts, job leads, and counseling. The positive cooperation between School Directors, the Education Department, and individual Instructors with the OCB placement network, has always worked toward the benefit of our graduates. This effort, in fact, has been a major factor in establishing the current 84 percent placement rate at our Cincinnati campus location.

In the spirit of this cooperation, there are (3) significant contributions to a student's experience with The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting.

• We have greatly emphasized and encouraged the student’s internship experience by introducing this into an earlier portion of the curriculum
• Career Services has taken an earlier and more active role in both preparing the student for internships and teaching how this experience leads to career-building
• A new online content management component was approved and introduced in our curriculum that is designed to enhance a graduate’s overall media production skill set, and provide a means to create and promote their professional branding

As one of five broadcast veterans who make up our Career Services network, my responsibilities include working with students from our Cincinnati and Columbus locations. From the moment they start the program we begin the process of preparing them for job opportunites. We do this in several different ways:

• We begin by framing the scope and purpose of their OCB education experience
• We review their resume and cover letters
• We work with them to give them a targeted understanding for the best  approach for their internship experience
• Mock interviews are conducted at three points in the curriculum
• Detailed instructional material is introduced to help prepare them for the interview process.

Throughout the course, I make frequent visits to the classroom to talk about how past graduates have achieved success, how the broadcast industry is evolving, and where opportunities exist. I also offer perspectives on the value of the many components of the curriculum.

Along with supervising and coaching students as needed, I am available to advise and coach every student who requests help in these areas, as well as offering guidance on improving the quality of their audio, video, and web presentations. New and more detailed instructional materials have been developed to address this process as well.

As students start to wrap up their course work, I help them find the best way to gather and present their very best media portfolio materials, which is a graduation requirement. As soon as a student graduates, my job is to encourage them to apply for appropriate opportunities in the field, and track their progress as they move forward in the industry.

My policy is to always be available to advise and support current OCB students as well graduates at any stage of their careers.

In 2013 our new OCB Career Services web page will be introduced which will enable graduates to share their experiences and best work in the industry, present encouragement and perspective from successful industry professionals, provide an expanded job bank for current industry opportunities, and offer another means of 24/7 contact with the OCB Career Services network.

If you're ready to take the first step toward your dream of working in the broadcasting industry, we're ready to help.

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

An Unexpected Bucket List

Kim Lucatorto

Assistant Education Director

Chicago Campus

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting

 

As a student in our program, you not only receive career training from professionals who currently work in the broadcasting industry, many members of our staff have also had long, successful careers in our business.

Kim Lucatorto (pictured above with J.G. Spooner from our Cleveland Campus) is someone who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a genuine desire to nurture the next generation of broadcasting professionals.

I love reading her stories. Enjoy!

When I first started working in TV, I volunteered for every opportunity to get production experience. That often meant schlepping whatever needed to be schlepped around a studio, or on location. Yes, there were times that I had to get coffee and lunch. I had to lift and move cameras. I often pulled cables. Once, I even drove from Indiana to Illinois to buy beer, on a Sunday, after we found out that Indiana didn’t sell alcohol on Sundays. 

Early in my career, I worked on the pilot for a show that eventually became “Real People”. That opportunity definitely put me in some interesting situations. We shot a segment in the basement of some womans house who called herself “The Snake Lady”. You need to know that I was pretty afraid of snakes back then, however, I wanted to work in TV more than I was afraid of snakes.

The entire time we were down in this small basement, I could hear the snakes hissing in their various cages. Shivers ran up my spine as I listened to the interview and wondered, are those snakes gonna stay in their cages?   

I snapped to attention when suddenly John Barbour, the host, said he wanted to see her biggest snake. Biggest snake? I didn’t see anything that remotely looked like a big snake. To be totally honest I had no interest in seeing it either. It had been a long day of shooting and I was extremely tired. So tired that I almost sat down on the window seat that lined the outside walls of the room. Good thing I didn’t because our "Snake Lady” happily started opening the tops of the window seats and began to pull out a giant snake…No kidding!

This snake was so big that it literally rounded the entire room…it had to have been at least 20 feet long. Guess who had to help hold that giant, heavy, moving snake? You got it. Myself and every one of us in that room had to help handle that thing. I remember it was freakishly hot in that basement. Just add in all the lights, crew, and now a giant, heavy snake. I felt pretty panicked, but we all made it out alive.

Another shoot with Barbour, landed us in a nudist colony in Indiana. In those days, interviewing a fat, naked, old guy was shocking.

I remember how embarrassing it was to be standing off to the side, holding my clipboard full of questions, watching this guy sitting on our clear plastic chair, and again, it was stifling hot in that room.

I can still remember seeing him sweat while sitting on that chair, wondering if he were going to stick to it, and hoping that I wouldn’t have be the one to have to grab that chair when we were done. Luckily I didn't, but, the highlight of my day was strolling the grounds with him and Barbour while we took a tour. This wasn’t a nudist colony of young, toned people. It was teeming with middle-aged, flabby people. Yuck!

Later, over dinner, as we all talked about our day, we realized that we left the plastic chair behind! We all decided immediately that we were all willing to chip in for a new one if we had to. Luckily, we didn’t.

When “Good Morning America” came to town, they wanted to shoot a promo at “Great America” riding their newest roller coaster and you guessed it, I've never liked roller coasters that much either.  The idea was to have someone in the front seat of the roller coaster and as they came to the end of the ride, they would have their arms raised, with big smiles on their faces, and yell “I’m so and so at Great America…Good Morning America!”

It was a simple idea that should’ve worked. Unfortunately, no one had thought to bring the talent release forms to “Great America” that day, and we couldn’t use any of the roller coaster enthusiasts who were waiting to ride this new monstrous coaster. 

As luck would have it, I was one of the two youngest, and presumably bravest, people from “Good Morning America” there that day and I was drafted into service, along with another young woman. I took one look at this coaster and thought,"Uh. No". The “Little Dipper” at “Kiddieland” was more my speed. When the finger pointing started about who forgot the talent release forms, I realized I didn’t want to wind up with any finger pointing my way, so I agreed to do it. 

I knew I could handle this…one ride and this would be over. As the crew set up the cameras, we rehearsed our line and practiced how we’d throw our hands up at the end of the ride. As we nervously settled into the front seat, we glanced at each other with sheepish grins and headed up that first hill. We chatted it up as we got to the top and as we crested the hill, we began to barrel down the tracks. Thinking we were going to die, we grabbed the bars, and screamed from start to finish. As pulled into the station at the end of the ride we both had a look sheer terror, and neither of us said one word to the cameras. 

Everyone on the crew was laughing. We looked at each other, realized how we just screwed this up, and all we could do was laugh. 

We were sure that they were going to just use the shot as-is, so we started to crawl out of the roller coaster. "Not so fast, ladies." The producer said. "We didn’t get the shot. You didn’t say the line.”

Somehow, knowing we had survived it once, we gained confidence and knew we could do it again. The second time, we nailed it. The producer decided he wanted another take, just in case. The third time, we did an even better job. It was that day that I developed a love of roller coasters. By the time we were done, we had been on that ride at least ten times and we didn’t want to get off. Yippeee!

Snakes? Naked people? Roller coasters? Working in TV can lead to some interesting situations. You never know what you’ll run into, so you have to be ready for anything.

If you're ready to take that first step toward making your dream of working in broadcasting a reality, we're ready to help make that happen.

It's as easy as filling out an application and scheduling your tour today.

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

A Sense Of Community

Terry Groden

Director

Cleveland Campus

Once you've made the decision to become part of the broadcasting community, you quickly discover that our community is so much bigger than what happens in front of the camera or behind the microphone.

It's about understanding and embracing those that you will serve. 

Terry Groden, Director of the Cleveland Campus, recently shared how his students were quick to act when the need was immediate and great.

Ohio Center for Broadcasting Students Rally for the Needy.

Students at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting in Cleveland showed their generosity recently with a quick-turnaround food drive.

The Ohio Center for Broadcastings' Advisory Board member, Candyce Traci, shared with  students about an immediate need for a local food pantry. Within the week, a laundry hamper, three boxes, and three shopping bags were filled with non-perishable foods and non-food items.

Traci was thrilled with the students’ effort, noting that many needy families will benefit because of the students’ big hearts. The effort was on behalf of the 9^th Annual Middleburg Heights Elected Officials Food Drive.

Traci and school officials presented this opportunity to students for two reasons.

One was to help them realize the wonderful feeling that comes from being charitable. The other, was a lesson about what they will find when they enter the working world of broadcasting.

Students need to understand how important community outreach is to Radio and TV stations. Media companies are constantly trying to help and improve the lives of people in their hometowns, nationally, or even abroad.

It’s a lesson that appears to have hit home with many OCB students.

The students were so inspired by the result of their efforts that they will be helping Traci with a new outreach effort. They will be working with an elementary school in New York on a campaign to draw attention to the importance of recycling efforts across the country.

We’ll have more information on that effort in November.

Our program is an intensive hands-on experience that takes you from basic equipment operation, to networking, to exposing you to the many ways you can establish and build your brand within todays' broadcasting industry.

If you feel you're ready to take the first step toward making your dream of working in broadcasting a reality, we're here to get you started..today. 

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

 

Family History. Modern Technology

 

Rollin DeVere III

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting

Graduate/Cleveland Campus

As part of the graduation requirements students must acquire 308 intern hours during their time with The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting.

Each of our locations have relationships with local television and radio stations, but there are times when special opportunities present themselves that are almost too good to be true. 

This year we partnered with NBC Universal Studios. Students from our Cleveland Campus applied to have the opportunity to work with the production crew. Four of our students were selected. LaTonia, a recent Cleveland Campus graduate, took some time to share her story and her recent experience as part of the crew with Fireball Run. Fireball Run is a reality television show that's part scavenger hunt, part race, and a mission to bring awareness to America's Missing Children.

Rollin DeVere, a recent Cleveland Campus graduate, was another strong presence as part of Team OICBFireball. He took a few minutes to share his experience with Fireball Run, and share why he feels The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting was the right educational choice for him as he works toward his goal of achieving success in the broadcasting industry.

I'm from Chagrin Falls Ohio, born and raised. I started early in the theater where my family is somewhat of a legacy. My Grandmother helped found The Chagrin Valley Little Theater in the 1940’s, and my family has been involved ever since. It was at an early age I learned production value from the local professionals who performed there.

I chose the Ohio Center for Broadcasting to improve my technical knowledge and personal network in Cleveland.

While at OCB, I have gained the experience and knowledge that I needed, and have had many good opportunities to work around town with various productions.

Chris O’Connell, our National Outreach Coordinator told me about a unique internship opportunity with the production crew for Fireball Run. I sent in my audition video and was accepted by Producer JJ Sanchez and Director Brian Bazala to be part of the live-stream team.

My teammates and I produced our own show to parallel Fireball Run in order to help us understand live-streaming functions and the equipment we would be using. We also got a great feel for what it was going to be like being live and on air.

It was a life changing experience that elevated myself and my teammates to a new level of professionalism.

One thing I would share with anyone who is considering attending The Ohio Center for Broadcasting is… just do it!

I would also tell them to take advantage of every opportunity, master the equipment, and network as often as possible.

A career in broadcasting is more than just being behind a microphone or in front of a camera. Writing, producing, directing, and editing are just a few examples of the many job opportunities that you could be yours in a little less than a year.

If you're ready to take the first step toward your dream of working in broadcasting, we're ready to get you started today.

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

The Right Place, The Right Time

LaTonia Hope

Graduate/The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting

Cleveland Campus

Wife and Mother of 3

As part of the graduation requirements students must acquire 308 intern hours during their time with The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting.

Each of our locations have relationships with local television and radio stations, but there are times when special opportunities present themselves that are almost too good to be true. 

This year we partnered with NBC Universal Studios. Students from our Cleveland Campus applied to have the opportunity to work with the production crew. Four of our students were selected. LaTonia, a recent Cleveland Campus graduate, took some time to share her story and her recent experience as part of the crew with Fireball Run. Fireball Run is a reality television show that's part scavenger hunt, part race, and a mission to bring awareness to America's Missing Children.

I ultimately chose The Ohio Center for Broadcasting because it spoke to me during my tour of the facility. During the tour, I felt a strong sense of confirmation that I belonged there. I sat with the administration and decided to take the plunge, step out on faith, and begin my life anew. 

Being exposed to the different facets of broadcasting allowed me discover my niche, as well as what I liked and what I didn't. When the opportunity to be part of Fireball Run presented itself, I jumped on it. I prepared a video that I was proud of and submitted it. It turned out that it was the video they liked most. It was that encouragement, that I knew the skills that I both learned and developed at OCB had me on the right track.

Fireball Run was an great experience in so many ways: 

• I learned to work with people with diverse styles and values.
• I was in a position to communicate with people who were successful  in the industry.
• I would be able to use Fireball Run on my resume.
• Despite my age, I found I was a solid asset to the overall production.
• I received many compliments regarding my work from the Executive Producer. That was absolutely priceless. 

If I had to share a piece of advice to anyone looking to work in broadcasting or in film, it would be:

• Be Yourself.  No one likes a kiss-a##.  If you are given the opportunity to work with a crew like that, believe that it was God that placed you there, and only God can remove you.
• Be A Team Player. Never try to aggrandize yourself at anyone else's expense.  Please know that betrayal is never forgotten or respected.  Those that make the decisions will recognize your work, and if they don't, it's their loss.
• Get Ready for Some Hard Work. Allow yourself to be comfortable in your surroundings, and know that you have just as much right to be on the team as anyone else. Take critiques, but not personally. Be willing to grow, but know that with growth comes growing pains. 
• Find a School That Fits Your Needs.  Frankly, there are a lot of schools out there that promise some big things and charge big tuitions along with them. I, along with my teammates, were chosen out of many other applicants from schools all over the country. However, the Executive Producer told me that he chose us because of the education that The Ohio Center for Broadcasting provided. We were also chosen based on our individual skill sets and abilities. The right education makes the difference.
• Show Up Every Day, Early!
• Be Focused. Work every project and learn everything being taught. 
• Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions, or ask for opportunities to learn more.
• Talk With the Instructors, it will help you find your way. 
• Lastly, Anything Worth Having is Indeed, Worth Working For. In this is the glory of God- to do what he's given you to do with the right attitude.  To be a blessing while being blessed!

No matter where you are in life, there's never been a better time than now to pursue your passion. If you're ready to take the first step toward your dream of working in the broadcasting industry, we're ready to help you get started today.

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

No Time for That Weak Stuff

Terry Groden

School Director

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting

Cleveland Campus

Cavalier’s Legend, Austin Carr, Visits Cleveland Campus

Throughout your time at The Ohio Center for Broadcasting, guest speakers are just one of the many unique opportunities you'll experience as a student.

Guest speakers provide insight, experience, and offer great networking suggestions.

Former NBA-great, and current professional broadcaster, Austin Carr visited the Ohio Center for Broadcasting’s Cleveland campus on September 18^th --- and had some great words of wisdom for students.

Carr is heading into his 15^th season as part of the Cleveland Cavalier’s TV broadcast team on Fox Sports Ohio. Before that, he was a two-time All-American basketball player for Notre Dame, and a ten-year veteran of the NBA.

Carr spent eight of his ten seasons in pro-ball with the Cavaliers, where he quickly established himself as a popular player and successful personality in Cleveland. Austin holds several team records and had his number 34 jersey retired by the club in 1981.

As soon as he arrived on campus, Austin was gracious enough to sit in for a few minutes on one of our “Be On Air” sports programs in progress. He then headed into the classroom where he dazzled a capacity audience.

Carr’s messages for students at OCB were right on target. He told students about the importance of networking and making a favorable impression on everyone you meet in the broadcasting industry. He also spoke about leaving all doors open because you never know where your career will lead you.

Austin repeatedly told students “to be yourself” while working to achieve their dreams. He mentioned the importance of working together as a team in broadcasting and that, if you’re the person in front of the microphone or camera, it’s not all about you.

Finally, Austin reminded students that broadcasting takes hard work and preparation, even for veterans like him. He explained his typical broadcast day and said that there are hours of homework and prep-time to be done before the lights go on and the show begins.

Actually, Carr had one more valuable lesson for the students. He told them how important it is to give back to the community. While at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, Austin certainly walked the talk. He was very generous with his time, answering numerous questions, signing a bunch of autographs, and taking all the pictures people asked for.

Thanks Austin!  

If you think you're ready to take that first step toward making your dream of working in broadcasting a reality, we're ready to get you started.

It's as easy as scheduling a tour, or connect with us here.

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

 

In The Trenches

Once you've made the decision to attend The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting, you've taken the first step in your 11 1/2 month journey to land your first job in the broadcasting industry. We offer a fast-paced, hands-on program like no other.

In addition to what you learn in the classroom, as a graduation requirement, students must acquire 308 intern hours. These internships not only provide real-life experience, students also learn the power of networking within our industry. While each of our locations have established relationships with most of the media outlets in our respective areas, there are unique opportunities that present themselves that are truly once in a lifetime.

This year, we will be working with Universal Studios as part of the ground crew shooting Fireball Run Adventurally. Fireball Run is a reality show and a live streaming event with the mission to "race to recover America's missing children". Not only will students be part of the production crew, OCB will also be participating as a team. Team #22 to be exact!

We will be driving a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country. Our vehicle has been been designed as an interactive "Mobile Audition Studio". It contains a Newtek Tricaster, portable green screen, Canon HD camera, laptop, IPad and HD video monitor. Spectators will be invited to stop by and see what it takes to be a television personality.

Four students from our Cleveland Campus have been selected to be embedded with the production crew. The event begins in Independence Ohio and concludes in Bangor Maine. This is an 8 day, 15 city, 2500 mile, interactive adventure game. Each team will make it's way from city to city using everything (and everyone) at their disposal solving clues & accomplishing missions based on northern history, geography, and pop culture.

Each Fireball Run team also represents a missing child from their home region. The mission; distribute over a 1000 posters during the 15 city, 2,500 mile adventure, as an awareness campaign to aid in the recovery of that missing child. To date Fireball Run has aided in the recovery effort of an unprecedented 35 missing children.

Team OCB is working to help bring Vivian Gloria Buildt back home. Vivian has been missing since August 25th, 2011.

Our students, Greg Neff, Latonia Hope, Stephanie Sager, and Rollin Devere will literally be in the trenches learning what it takes to shoot and execute a reality television show. They will also be tweeting and documenting their journey via FaceBook. Sounds like a pretty sweet gig, huh? We sure think so!

We'll have more details as we get closer to the kickoff. This event will also be livestreamed throughout the entire race. 

To learn more about the OCB team, you can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

It's opportunities like this that set the tone for your future success in your chosen career.

If you're ready to take the first step toward your dream of working in the broadcasting industry, we're ready to get you started!

Schedule a campus tour today, or, simply connect here, and we'll do the rest.

The Ohio Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Things I Learned Working in The Mail Room

 

Kim Lucatorto

Assistant Education Director

Illinois Center for Broadcasting-Chicago Campus

By the time they graduate, broadcasting students usually have a dream job in mind.  Me? I wanted to be a Television Producer. 

I knew that going directly from school to being a television producer wasn’t going to just happen overnight. As luck would have it, one of my teachers helped me get my first television job. I landed in the mail room at ABC-7 in Chicago. Now, before you dismiss that job as a waste of time, I’ll let you in on a little secret.  Starting in the mailroom is actually a great way to get started. 

Here are four things I learned by working in the mail room.

• I was in and out of every office at that TV station, twice each day. Each day, I ran ‘the 360’ route to drop off station PR materials to the main newspapers in town and pick up items to bring back to the station. This was in the days before computers and faxes. It was great in warm weather, but brutal in the winter. However, I got to meet people with the newspapers while I was there. Those connections would be key later when I entered the publishing part of my career. 

• I used my time in the mail room wisely. I was one of the few people at the station who actually knew everyone, what every department did, and how it all fit together at the station. That information became invaluable when a news anchor would like some free tickets to a show, and didn't know who to ask in the sales department. You can build a network of contacts pretty fast when you run errands for other employees, and the payoff is helping  them get tickets to the hottest show in town. 

• I also heard every bit of gossip there was at the station. I kept it to myself and used it to my advantage. Imagine what you could do for yourself, if you knew that the person currently working in the job you wanted was quitting, well before anyone else knew about it. I made sure I started campaigning for that job immediately. 

• Those of us who are alumni of the mail room like to hire people who also started in the mail room. Go figure. We were young, ambitious, and took any opportunity to get a foot in the door. You’ll find those people in the most surprising places. From heading up entertainment divisions, to producing/writing/directing, to acting, and every job in between. 

There are a lot of people in TV who started in the mail room, including that same teacher who helped me get my mail room job. He is an Emmy-winning director, and has traveled around the world working for ABC Sports for years. Not too shabby, right?

One of the best things about your time with the Ohio/Illinois Center for Broadcasting, is that you don't have to wait to get your first job in order to get your foot in the door. Each student is required to earn 308 intern hours in order to graduate. It's those intern hours that not only give you the hands-on experience you'll need, you'll also develop key networking skills.

In our industry, your success will be determined by your work ethic, your skills, and getting to know the right people to help you on your journey.

So, if you have a chance to start in a job like the mail room…take it.  It’s a great place to start.  You’ll not only get the honor of being able to say "I started in the mail room’, it could also open up more doors than you ever thought possible.

If you're ready to take that first step toward your new career in broadcasting, we're ready to get you started today.

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting. Where Broadcasting Careers Begin!

 

And The Winner Is...(Updated 8/9/2012)

Jodi Franks

Marketing Coordinator

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting

Because that's what kindness is.  It's not doing something for someone else because they can't, but because you can.  ~Andrew Iskander

Update: 8/9/2012- Since we posted this blog we have received official notification from the ACCSC that J.G. has been selected as "The 2012 Graduate of the Year". He will be honored on 9/11/2012 in San Diego, California during the Annual ACCSC Awards Luncheon.

Congratulations J.G!

Each year, The Ohio Center for Broadcasting, recognizes a graduate that is working full time in the broadcasting industry for their dedication to the profession through leadership and commitment. The committee also looks at the graduates commitment to their community and industry organizations.

The nominating committee selected 8 Cleveland Campus graduates that they felt met the criteria, submitted an application, and answered the following questions:

• How you are providing leadership in your career and profession?
• How you have advanced in your career since graduation?
• How are you committed to excellence in the Broadcast industry?
• How are you actively working with charitable activities and your community?
• Do you have a personal story to demonstrate your perseverance to overcome adversity in your career?

After receiving the applications, the committee reviewed the applicants and made their selection.

Our Graduate of the Year began his career shortly after graduation in January 2009. His first full time job was in Buffalo Wyoming as the morning drive host at Big Horn Mountain Radio. He surprised his colleagues in his first year on air when the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters selected him as "Small Market Personality of the Year", "Best Play by Play Coverage", and three other statewide awards. He received more awards in a single year than any other Wyoming broadcaster before him. That's a pretty strong accomplishment with only one year of the industry under your belt.

He demonstrated his commitment to his community by volunteering to provide announcer services for a variety of events in Buffalo, and continues to do that now in northeast Ohio, where he currently resides.

While in Buffalo, he received a call just before Christmas from the local Chamber of Commerce requesting help with their annual Angel Tree program. The Angel Tree assists residents by providing gifts and clothing to underprivileged children. This ensures the children will have something to open on Christmas morning. When he learned that Angel Tree still had many kids that they would'nt be able to provide for, he spent the next 4 hours of his show creating an impromptu radiothon and raised over 6,000 dollars. He then gave his own time to help buy the presents for those children and to ensure every child on the Angel Tree would have a present.

Less than a year after he began his career in Wyoming, he accepted the position of Program Director and Operations Manager for the entire station cluster. During this time he looked to the Ohio Center for Broadcasting to search for new talent. By working with our Career Services staff at the Cleveland campus, we were able to identify graduates that would be a good fit for the position. Currently the graduate he hired is now the Program Director. She credits him for her success by hiring her and taking the time to coach her in the early stages of her broadcasting career. 

After returning to Cleveland, he accepted a position with CBS Radio as a part time sports Producer, which was his first love. He took that part-time opportunity to land his next role as Producer for the "Kiley and Booms" morning show on 92.3 The Fan.

After the recent school shooting at Chardon High School, he worked with his Program Director and station personnel to help the students and community heal.  He provided updated coverage of the events as well as live coverage of sporting events when basketball season resumed. 

He is currently an instructor at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, Cleveland Campus, and often uses his own students as interns. This gives the students an opportunity to learn first hand what it takes to succeed in the broadcasting industry. 

The Cleveland Campus Graduate of the Year is J.G. Spooner. His name and application have been submitted to our accrediting agency, the ACCSC, to be considered as the National Graduate of the year program. The ACCSC will select a Graduate of the Year from more than 1000 member schools and honor that person in San Diego at their national convention in September. 

A career in broadcasting is so much more than meets the eye. If you're ready to take that first step to make your dream of working in the industry a reality, we're here to guide the way.

Schedule your campus tour today!