Class of
2003
Bio: After graduating from USC with a degree in broadcast journalsim in 2003, I spent nearly two years at KQ-TV.
That’s the ABC affiliate in the small market of St. Joseph, Missouri, one hour north of Kansas City.
I spent nearly two years there, starting out as a news/sports reporter and working my way up to weekend sports anchor. I was a one-man band as I shot, wrote and edited everything. Contacts I made in nearby Kansas City
helped me next become the senior sports producer at KSHB-TV, the NBC station in Kansas City, MO. I produce the 6pm sportscast on KSHB. I also produce the only half hour TV sports talk show on basic cable in Kansas City. It’s on our independent sister station, 38 the Spot or KMCI. The show is called the 38 Sports Spot, featuring sports news of the day and guests.
ATVN positions and duties: Sports Anchor, Reporter, Photographer, Editor
How did ATVN prepare you for your current job?
Working at ATVN allowed me to get great hands-on experience that prepared me well for my first job. I felt like I was ahead of a lot of other people thanks to ATVN. The shooting I did at ATVN helped the most. As a one man band reporter for my first job, I had to shoot everything and shooting all of those games at ATVN paid off. The packages I put together at ATVN helped big time. I knew the importance of NAT sound, and that gave me an edge over a lot of other people. The producing I did at ATVN was huge, too. I never thought I’d be a sports producer. It just goes to show learn how to do everything at ATVN, including producing, because you never know what you might end up doing.
Advice: You have to be dedicated to the job you’re doing. It’s also important to be yourself. It seems like a lot of people who start out anchoring talk like they’re reading. You’ve got to be conversational. And always use NAT sound and creative standups in your packages. It will help make you stand out. Also, visit the station you’re going to. You can’t be too picky with the first station you work at because you’ve got to start somewhere. But you should visit the next place and check it out before you go.
What are the top three skills college journalism students should be working on in order to be prepared for their first broadcasting job?
1. Meeting deadlines for packages (Don’t ever think you have time)
2. Solid Writing skills
3. Strong Work Ethic
What is the most important thing a college journalist should know when he or she is trying to negotiate his or her first job?
Make sure you have an out or at least a buyout.
What prepared you most for your current job?
Shooting and Doing Day of Air packages at ATVN
Want to update your information? Let us know where you are.
« Back to Alumni
|
