Posted by David Huffman on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 @ 01:06 PM
By now I'm sure you have seen our ebooks. I have posted about them a few times with links to check them out. However, I'm not really sure that I have really explained them to you - what they are, what they're for, etc.
So here goes.
E-Book #1
17 Careers In Sports Broadcasting: Highlighting Just About Every Position You Can Score To Grab That Career in Sports
Longest title ever? Yea, maybe. Longest book ever? Nope. It's a short 20 page quick hitter that takes a look at on-air sports broadcasting careers and behind the scenes sports broadcasting careers.
And when I say "quick hitter" I mean each page is dedicated to one position - so there isn't a ton of reading, just a job title and an explanation of what that job is/does and enough to peak your interest and hopefully get you on your way.
Why did we put this together?
Well, a lot of times we get people that come to us wanting to strictly be on-air or maybe these people have NO CLUE what they want to do: Our thought is...maybe this would help a little.
Don't have it yet? GO DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
E-Book #2
Be A MacGyver: 10 Beginner Tips For Point And Shoot Video Using Your Flip Camera or Smartphone
Before I knew some basic shooting techniques, I had some trouble gathering video from my Flip cam. Maybe the audio was muffled or the lighting was bad.
Maybe I shot a vast array of nothing with no direction or point - making editing kind of a mess.
That's where our head was with this eBook. It's not for the pros. It's not even for the almost-pros - just the average joes.
Wait, that rhymed ;)
This particular ebook is just 14 pages long and is filled with one page super basic quick tips that should get you up and running and at least in the right direction with these devices.
Got this one yet? GO DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
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In the next year we at the Ohio Illinois Center for Broadcasting plan on releasing a few more of these ebooks. And then a few more after that. So keep your eyes peeled. Or we'll just take a minute to let you know about them. (insert winky smiley face thing here)
Posted by David Huffman on Wed, Aug 18, 2010 @ 04:00 PM
By Jodi Franks
Ohio Center for Broadcasting
Cincinnati, OH Campus
franks.j@beonair.com
twitter: @producerjodi
Sports KAKS-FM (The Hog Sportsradio)/Fayetteville, AR, fired Renee Gork after she wore a University Of Florida Gators cap to a press conference with Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino. When concluding the press conference, Petrino said it would be the last question he answered for Gork "with that hat on."
Gork, who later thought Petrino was joking, said in a Twitter post that she was hoping to publicly apologize to the coach and Razorback fans. However, she won't get the chance since being fired.
A harsh lesson due to poor fashion choices, Renee Gork paid the price for what was probably a last minute solution for a bad hair day. Or was it? Did she go “rogue” to prove her allegiance to the Gators? Who knows…
At the end of the day, the moral of the story is that each day the smallest choices made could dictate the direction of our careers. This is a business of egos, ours and theirs.
Not that having an ego is a bad thing. During an interview, it’s not just solid broadcasting skills that you bring to the table, it’s that overall sprinkling of confidence that lets that future employer know that you take pride in your work, you care about the product you are creating, and understand you are part of a team, and a solid team wins. Add a dash of humble charm; the other candidates won’t stand a chance.
The same thing goes after you’ve landed that first job, egos with a little humility. Most celebrities, government officials, coaches, people in general, will give that exclusive interview to someone who presents themselves as someone who wants to give integrity to their story without the sensationalism. Once the word is out that people trust you, your network starts to grow as well as your reputation.
Like I said, MOST, if you want to be the next Perez Hilton…you can still have a great network, but you’ll be interviewing The Bad Girls Club and not Sandra Bullock.
Just sayin’.
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Gork Press Release Source: Radio-Online.com
Posted by David Huffman on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 @ 10:19 AM
O.C.B.’s staff and students: I have to write to thank you and inform you all, of this wonderful job placement. I graduated from the Ohio Center for broadcasting on August 15th of 2007 and by August 29th I was gainfully employed at C.B.S. in Cheyenne WY.
I worked hard for this position as Head of Creative services, also known as the commercial department. Thanks to persistence and preparation meeting opportunity, I was lucky enough to achieve my dreams and am now casting, creating, producing, shooting, and editing commercials for one of the top five broadcasting stations in the world.
My ultimate dream is to direct some movies and I am well on my way. I was one of those students that had some really bad luck follow me throughout my education, and yet I overcame. This is for all of you students who think that the school doesn’t work or that you have missed too many days. I was at my limit of absences due to unfortunate events including a nasty divorce that began the day before school did. I buckled down and made sure that I was there for whoever needed me and acquired most of my intern hours on beonair.com, but I needed more so thanks to O.C.B., Colorado rock, and myself, I’m on my way.
Pay attention to your teachers and don’t give up, and I’ll see you in the field one day.
Looking forward to seeing you all,
Brandon Parker a.k.a. Squatch
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Posted by David Huffman on Mon, Aug 16, 2010 @ 03:16 PM
By Dave Huffman
twitter: @davemhuffman
Flip cams.
The "Super Camera" guys turn their noses up at them.
In fact, this post was inspired by a bit of an argument I had after we posted our Be A MacGyver eBook directed at helping people shoot better video with these devices.
Super Camera guy says: "There is no such thing as shooting better video with a flip cam, boo for this..."
We/I say: "Yes there is...and you better take off them there snobby pants right now or you're gonna miss the boat."
Look, at the Ohio Illinois Center for Broadcasting we teach you how to use those Super Cameras. So we get it.
Yes, they DEFINITELY more than have their place. Comparing the high end super camera with a Flip cam is like comparing Dreamworks to, well, Youtube. Both distribute video, but for entirely different purposes.
The argument here is you need to start taking these little devices seriously because they too have their place.
People are shooting feature length films with iPhones now, for crying out loud.
Here they are. Six reasons you should take "Flip Cams" seriously.
1. They Shoot Really Good Video
Obvious yea, but we had to start here. You just can't deny this. The video quality is more than acceptable with these devices. Provided you understand some basic shooting guidelines - you can really capture some GREAT content without lugging around a big camera.
2. The Big Networks Use Them
Paid attention to the likes of CNN lately? Seen the iReporter? Yea, those guys are using little flip cam things.
And guess what? The networks are now able to capture MUCH MORE content than they previously could than by going it alone with Super Camera over there.
Which leads into the next point...
3. They Are Perfect For Content & Storytelling
At the end of the day, all we really want is a good story. We don't pay too much attention to remarkable resolution or sound quality if the story is incredible.
Sure, that stuff is great - but it isn't what makes the story or the content. It's the context.
If you host a radio show or need to post video regularly, these cameras are more than perfect for catching quick real-time content with fast turn around.
4. They Are Uber-Portable & Inexpensive
I could fit 5 of these cameras on me for one super camera. I could arm a group of friends with multiple camera angles for the price of one super camera.
I could more easily sneak one backstage ;)
Heck, if you are already a Pro-Shooter - why not have a couple in your bag for backup?
5. We Live In A NOW Culture
The Flip cam video life goes something like this: Shoot video then upload to Youtube/Vimeo.
Boom - that's it.
Right now. Quick turn around.
The faster you get that content uploaded, the more engaged your fans are with you.
Again, provided you understand some basic shooting techniques and you already have an eye for what you want to shoot - you can actually "edit" the video in real-time without even really "editing" it.
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Wanna Shoot Better Flip Video?
Posted by David Huffman on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 01:17 PM
One of the things I really like about the Ohio Illinois Center for Broadcasting program is its flexibility. One of those flexible ways is the fact that we can help you achieve career goals whether you are coming to us straight from high school or if you've already been to a 2 or 4 year college/university.
A sizable portion of our student body comes to us with some sort of college degree or experience. Maybe the 2 or 4 year route wasn't for them.
Or maybe while at that 2 or 4 year they didn't pick up enough of the technical skills and connections needed to succeed in a competitive industry.
We see both sides of the coin, often.
Below is a graduate success story by Abbie Burke from the Colorado campus. Abbie graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Speech Communications - then on to us at OCB for some more training.
Well...you can read the rest.
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Hey OCB!
It's been about 8 months since I graduated and I'm loving my new job and career!
I am working at Fox 21 in Colorado Springs as a producer and reporter. I produce the nightly newscast at 6:30 p.m. and report throughout the week. It is great to finally have a job that I look forward going to. It doesn't even feel like work!
I wouldn't be where am I today without the Ohio Center for Broadcasting. OCB gave me the tools, knowledge, and connections I needed to succeed. I interned at Fox 21 while attending school at OCB which opened the doors for me to get a job there.
I never dreamed my first on-air job would be in a top 100 market.
No one is going to just hand you a job in this competitive career field. You have to be willing to put in a lot of time and hard work. But anything is possible if you stay committed and don't give up!
Learn as much as you can from everyone you can.
Thanks OCB for helping me find a career that I love and can be proud of.
Sincerely,
Abbie Burke
Producer/Reporter
Fox 21 KXRM
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Posted by David Huffman on Tue, Aug 10, 2010 @ 09:03 AM
A few weeks back we scored a guest post from Dan Hoffman and Nick Jones of Palestra Creative out of Columbus, OH.
They are certainly a couple of great chaps who do some tremendous work.
Anywho - the blog was so helpful for some, that Dan and Nick let us mess with it a little and turn it into an eBook that you can download and take with you.
This isn't for the pros already out making great videos. Unless of course, you've turned your nose up towards these devices (if so, you should re-think that position).
This is mainly just for the average guy or gal that has trouble shooting with their Flip Camera or Smartphone.
Or for the radio show or promotions rep out collecting in-studio or promotional content.
Sure, you'll get better over-time on your own - but maybe this will give you a headstart?
Either way, hope you enjoy.
Posted by David Huffman on Mon, Aug 09, 2010 @ 02:52 PM
By Dave Huffman
Ohio Center for Broadcasting
huffman.d@beonair.com
twitter: @davemhuffman
For close to 7 years or so I made a living as an indie musician. I traveled the country, recorded five albums, stole a spot in a movie, didn't have to clock into a "day job", and "made it" on a small regional level.
All along the way, I ran into people who were vying for a spot in the industry from managers, booking agents, audio engineers, and yep - radio and television personalities.
And boy was it refreshing to run into or do an interview with someone who was extremely passionate about not only the music, but the entire local scene surrounding it.
That passion usually bleeds into the interview through great questions, the band reacts from there with great answers...in other words, great content is made.
I mean, it probably seems kind of obvious, right? I know I'm not breaking new ground or blowing your mind right now, but I'm not sure if a lot of people really think of the broadcasting school route as a way to get their indie music fix.
Currently, OICB has sports stations o'plenty - you've heard us mention those.
But we also have a barrel full of unsigned music stations where you can cut your teeth working with and lifting up the local music scene.
AND IT'S REAL STUFF. This isn't just for practice.
Some of our stations:
- Undergroundcolumbus.com
- CincyUnderground.com
- MileHighUnderground.com
- WindyCityUnderground.com
- TheEdgeOnAir.com
Yea, you can probably see that we like the "Underground" moniker ;)
While working shifts on these stations, you start to build your skills in all things on air and off air - but you also get to stumble upon new music everyday.
And a lot of it is REALLY good music that our students/staffers handpick for airplay.
I'm serious. Really good.
5 Ways To Get Your Indie Music Fix in Broadcasting School
1. In-Studio performances
From performing right in the radio or television studio to performing at one of the OICB Sessions, you get experience miking up and running a live in-studio stripped down or acoustic performance.
2. Interviews
Ah, the art of the interview. From bands to phoners, to fans at the shows - you get plenty of experience here. And you pick up plenty of insight into the mind of the act. Most divulging their songwriting secrets or "how they made it", if you can think up the right questions.
3. Discovering new music everyday
Did I already mention this like 10 times? Yep. I think I could get away with another five times though. Our stations play it all, from hip-hop to some jangly alt. country. If you like it, chances are you might find that "next big thing" just by doing what you love and working your air shifts.
4. Emcee'ing Live events
Every so often we will break out of the studio and take our events to the live stage. In the past things like OCB Sessions LIVE were good examples of this. Basically our in-studio event present at a live venue with multiple bands and 300+ people in attendance.
5. Remote Broadcasts from Shows
Sometimes rather than actually hosting the events, we will set up a table at the venue and broadcast live from that spot. It's fun. You still get show access, backstage to gather some content from the acts, plus you can really mix it up with the fans and talk about your show and maybe stumble upon another act or two that the station should be wrapping their heads around.
At one of our broadcasting schools currently? Find the point person on your campus and get signed up for an airshift and possibly a future event. It'll most likely be one of the marketing/promotions reps.
Not at one of our broadcasting schools?
Posted by David Huffman on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 @ 09:40 AM
I want to express my gratitude to the Ohio Center for Broadcasting for the opportunity to enroll and pursue my dreams. There is no way I would be where I am now without you.
A month before classes started, I set out to email as many people in the industry, including instructors at the school, past students, and prominent figures in the industry. I asked them what I needed
to excel beyond the norm.
What can I do?
Gathering information and networking is very key. Make as many contacts as possible. They will payoff in the future.
Once enrolled in OCB, my next mission was to make connections for an internship. I had emailed Greg Rothacker, a former student and a DJ at 95.5 the Fish, as well as went to a festival the Fish was at to introduce myself to the Program Director, other DJs, and the Promotions Director, Kristine Lane, a former student as well. I expressed my passion for the industry and how I have been a listener of the Fish. I kept in contact and expressed my desire for an internship.
I started my internship at 95.5 the Fish in September 2008. Once I secured an internship at the Fish, it was now time to keep close to those important at the station. There was not one thing I would not do at that internship. It was a bout showing my passion for anything at the station.
If something was accidentally discarded, I was in the garbage finding it. Len Howser, the P.D., asked what my passion was. I took this opportunity to tell him how much I wanted to produce and be creative and also be a full time on air talent. What do you know?!?!?! He gave me my shot (AS AN INTERN).
I got to do a midnight to 3 am shift. From then on, I listened to feedback, corrected things, and practiced speaking exercises, what ever it took to improve.
In promotions, I got to events early. I would talk with the visitors; get down on my knees to talk to kids, etc. Whatever I did, I did with 100% passion; a love for radio.
Three months later, while working at Progressive Insurance in sales, I received a phone call from the Fish, inviting me to lunch (near me) with the General Manager, Program Director, and Promotions
Director. At this lunch, they had expressed their interest in offering me a part time job in promotions after the first of the year, as they
were doing their budget for 2009.
Sure enough, in January, I was Promotions Coordinator, while still in school. As school was finishing in April 2009, I talked with the P.D. about my interest in the Fish full time. But if not possible, I would be looking around for full time at graduation.
The Monday before graduation, the General Manager called me to talk about combining a board operating job at WHK along with my Promotions Coordinator position at the Fish. I started the Monday
after graduation. This was the very same day that many employees of the stations were let go.
The G.M. did not mention how well board operate. He did not mention how good I sound on the air. He did not mention any skills. He said that he could see my passion for the station and the industry.
He saw my work ethic. That is what got me in. That was the kicker. Remember that. In everything you do, from written tests to projects to attendance, your work ethic is projected. That is what is noticed.
During the ten months that will fly by so quickly, embrace the industry. Embrace the projects. Embrace the knowledge. These instructors know exactly what to do to make you successful.
This can happen for you. I've seen classmates fail and succeed. It all depends on you. What are you going to get out of these ten months?
It's up to you.
Finally, present and future students, this is your chance. Don't pass it up. You will have the knowledge when you complete the program. The difference is the drive. I had it. I still have it.
Do you?
Matt Lisi
July '08
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Posted by David Huffman on Wed, Aug 04, 2010 @ 03:48 PM
Class orientations are always a big to do here in Cincinnati. Meeting new students, seeing their excitement, sensing the nervousness of beginning a new chapter in your life, it doesn’t matter what the age, the first day of school is a big deal.
We will always ask a new student, “Are you more interested in Television or Radio?”
For each of us who have worked within this industry, we know this is a loaded question. Sure you work in “tv” or “radio”, but what do you do?
The majority of students will want to either be in front of the camera or behind the mic. It isn’t until they get into the meat of the program that the realization of how many different careers are available truly starts to set in.
If you’ve at least decided you want to attend a broadcasting college or school, fantastic, the first hurdle has been cleared. Deciding where you are going to land, well, that’s a horse of a different color.
Here is a list of (8) career choices for radio.
They’re listed in no particular order. Keep in mind, if you work in a smaller market, you may the person who handles four or five of the jobs listed. The more responsibility you handle, the more marketable you become.
#1 Program Director
is the person who develops or selects some or all of the content that will be broadcast. Their selections are based upon understanding the demographic of their listeners. They manage everyone on the programming side and act as a liaison with the sales department and the General Manager to ensure radio promotions are executed with revenue generating success.
#2 Operations Manager/ General Manager
hires and trains all employees. They oversee the sales and accounting departments. They usually have a sales, or business management background, and handle the contract issues of the air personalities.
#3 Engineer
Radio Engineers are responsible for running the electronics that keep radio stations on the air. This includes maintaining equipment inside the station, as well as the transmitters, the broadcast towers and any cabling that feeds them. Their specialized knowledge is also needed to ensure that the station is in compliance with federal and local regulations about radio frequency interference.
#4 Imaging Director
Responsible for creating all the jingles, sweepers, liners, and legal id’s that define what the image of the station is. They also write and produce the majority of the commercials that are aired on a particular station, always keeping the core values of the station and the demographic they are targeting.
#5 Sales
You sell the airtime, the promotions, and just about anything you can dream up (if the GM will let ya). If you have a knack for getting people on the phone and closing deals - you might want to give this position a look. Some of the best sales people started off on-air and because they had a working knowledge of the air schedules and content, they can put together some of the best promotions for advertisers. Working in conjunction with position #8 of course ;)
#6 News/Traffic
Every cluster is different, but if you are considered the fulltime news/tx person, you’ll probably work a split shift. You’re there in the morning with the Morning Show, and come back during Afternoon Drive. You can expect that you will execute several live news breaks per hour, plus a traffic update at least every ten minutes.
#7 Morning Show Producer
You book the guests, research the topics, execute the contests, run the board, edit show content for air, create morning show imaging, and keep the talent on time and on point. You are also the direct line to the PD.
#8 Promotions Director/Coordinator
You’re the person who comes up with all those great little giveaways and contests. You work directly with the PD and the sales department to get more bang for the advertising buck by coming up with creative ways to give away 800 cases of Frank’s Hot Sauce in July. You think outside the proverbial box and people love your quirky view of the world. It’s a high pressure position, but for someone who is organized and highly creative, it’s a behind the scenes position that has a big payoff in the fact that you are responsible for the overall success of a station when the promotion is executed with success.
So…which one are you?
Posted by David Huffman on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 @ 03:30 PM
By: Daniel Anstandig
President
McVay New Media Consulting
Multitasking is nothing new to radio listeners. For generations, listeners have incorporated radio into working, driving, cleaning, cooking, and socializing. It’s the ultimate passive medium—as a listener, you can engage as much or as little as you want.
Successful radio programmers have even used “usage imaging” to teach listeners how to multitask using their stations. Examples of “usage imaging” include well known liners like “listen while you work” or “turn it on in the car”—phrases that instruct the audience to multitask with the radio.
In fact, radio’s nature as a multitask-friendly medium is one of its most underutilized strengths when it comes to digital opportunities. Radio is a medium that listeners are trained to use while doing other things. Producing online content that is relevant to the station’s broadcast might just be the key to easily getting more page views and “time spent connected” from your audience.
A new research study from Nielsen sheds light on the multitasking phenomenon among television viewers. Nielsen reports that three out of four Americans surf the web and watch TV at the same time—and half of them say that they do it daily. Two and a half hours per week is the average amount of time people are spending with the TV and web at the same time—usually using e-mail, Facebook, or other websites (mostly unrelated to the content of the TV show they’re watching).
This points to an obvious opportunity for television—an opportunity to create online content that ties in to on-air programming. If it’s done effectively, it might just get more mileage out of each viewer by attracting them to use the station’s website simultaneously.
In radio, we already know that our listeners are multi-taskers. We know that a significant number of at-work listeners are in front of the computer during the day with radio in the background. Is your station making use of this exceptional opportunity to engage listeners in your programming online? How are you pointing listeners to move from on-air to online… and back?
We have seen in numerous studies that the people who visit radio station websites are often P1s or P2s who can be converted to P1s. Knowing that PPM numbers are driven by high P1 listening, your ability to move listeners from sphere to sphere could ultimately even impact your ratings.
Make your station more compatible for multi-taskers—and for people who want to access your brand in multiple places at once. Block your competition by getting more time from your listeners—don’t give them the chance to multi-task with someone else.