If there’s one thing I can say I am guilty of, it’s being a yes man. I say yes to almost everything. Sometimes it gets to be overwhelming because a lot can fall on my plate, but I must say I love when I have a lot going on. I would so much rather be frantically running around trying to get work done than being bored sitting in my room with nothing to do. By saying yes to so much, it has opened up a lot of doors for me as I prepare myself for the real world. People have seen how much I am able to take on at once, and even though I might have a lot going on, I am good at always making sure that my work is exceptional.

I see a lot of people complain about how busy they are. Sometimes this might be the case, but a lot of the time people are just unable to handle multiple things at once. It’s hard for a lot of people to separate their social lives with their working lives. It’s important to understand that in the real world you have to be able to separate the two. If you are unable to do so, you will never be able to market yourself as a good employee.

Take advantage of opportunities that present throughout your life. Always look at every opportunity and think “will this make me better?” Most of the time you will realize that it will. It’s important to better yourself in everything you do. The more you get involved in, and the more you challenge yourself with opportunities, the better off you will be in the future. Enjoy every opportunity that presents itself in your life, and never take them for granted.

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The most important aspect in broadcasting is teamwork. By using the people around you to complete tasks, and jobs not only makes things easier, but it’s also more rewarding in the end. You become very close to the people around you, and you turn into a family. It’s pretty cool to have worked with different companies and see how each one works so well with each other. They know each others strengths and weaknesses, where they come from, different things about there families, what they like to eat, and much more. It’s great to see how close everyone is in a working environment. Now that’s not to say some people don’t start to get on your nerves, which they will. But it’s important to stay professional with people, and work through your differences. That’s what make everybody so close.

I see a lot here at IUP where students “hate group projects”. It’s important that if you want to work in this field that you learn how to do group work. Not only does group work take a load off your shoulder if you delegate the work onto others, but it also feels good to work as a team. You get to toss around different ideas to come up with the best possible project to present. It might not always be the easiest because there is always a slacker in the group, but that’s going to happen for the rest of your life. There’s always going to be someone who won’t work as hard, but it’s important to understand that the work you put in will be noticed. There might be someone on your team who might help you get a job someday, or will vouch for you when you need it most. Never put forth less than your absolute best, and you will always feel good about the project you finish with.

The harder a team works together, the better the end project will be. I work with one other person creating graphics for the upcoming football season here at IUP. It’s awesome when we each toss graphical ideas around, and work as a team to put them together. We have made some graphics that look like they were produced by a team of 10 people, but we did it with just the two of us. This upcoming football season should be the best we’ve ever had graphically, and it’s an awesome feeling knowing I worked as a team to make it happen.

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One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is gather idea’s by watching broadcasts. You will see tons of different graphical ideas, or ways videos are edited that adds an entire mood to a broadcast. I will then take these graphics, and recreate them in my own way for the broadcasts I produce. It’s one of the best ways to begin to enhance a low production broadcast. See things you like that companies such as NBC, ESPN, FOX, or CBS do that you can recreate and make it your own for your broadcasts.

Now once you find an idea that you like, it’s then time to actually try to recreate it. This is where many people fall short. Many students at the division II level, who work for free, and have no budgets need to figure out a free way to make these graphics. This seems harder than it actually is, but it takes a lot of time. This is when teaching yourself how to use programs becomes necessary. One of the easiest programs to use to recreate graphics is photoshop. You can make tons of graphics that look good, simple, and enhance your broadcast. If you want to dig deeper and make your graphics have more life to them, then you can use programs such as after effects to add movement it depth to graphics.

Many students fall short here because they are unwilling to learn these programs because they are not taught them in classes. It’s important that you take the time to learn it on your own. The more you teach yourself, the more you will be able to market yourself in the future. Take the time to make graphics that you like. You will enjoy recreating them, and when you see them on the broadcast, you will be proud of all the work you put in to make it happen.

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Now don’t get me wrong, there are times I can be extremely confident in myself, and think that there’s no need for me to pay attention in classes because it’s not teaching me things I want to know. What I have started to do is teaching myself things that will be beneficial for myself in the future. I have started to teach myself things that are not offered as classes, such as after effects. After effects is one of the most vital tools used to create graphics for broadcasts. It adds a sense of movement and 3D that you don’t get unless you understand the program. I have dedicated an entire summer teaching myself how after effects works, creating graphics for IUP’s football and basketball broadcasts. It is important to me that the broadcasts at my school continue to get better, and look as if it is a professional team putting together these broadcasts.

It bothers me when I see people only putting time into there class work instead of furthering their education outside of the class room. You can only learn so much from a textbook. Most of the knowledge you will gain to help you in this industry is learned through repetition and doing. Most of the people I see at my university have never worked in a high pressure situation. They don’t understand what it’s like when you aren’t getting audio 30 minutes before you are live on air. They don’t understand what it’s like when the broadcast feed goes out, or the score bug is not working. These are just a few examples, but you get my point. A lot of times, things don’t work when you need them to. This is when you need to think critically, and find solutions. Students don’t get this understanding through textbooks, they get it by being in a high pressure working environment.

One of the best examples I can give is a time when I was called and told that we had to set up our arena in 30 minutes to host a high school basketball tournament. The tournament was originally supposed to be held in a different building on our campus but it had to be moved due to an issue with the water in the building. The only thing that was in place inside the arena was the basketball floor. We had to pull out all of the bleachers, set up the LED scorers table, create graphics, run microphones, and it all had to be done in 30 minutes. It was the fastest set up for a basketball game we have ever had. We did not panic, and we didn’t fold. We got it done. It wasn’t the most perfect set up we ever had, but for the amount of work we had to do in 30 minutes, it was a job well done.

Now you might be asking yourself “what’s the point to all of this?” The point of it is to help you understand that you can’t stop learning. Don’t ever think that because you know what’s going on in your textbooks means you are able to work in the broadcasting field. If you do, you will never be successful in this industry. When you get your first opportunity, don’t act like you know everything that is going on. There will be many things people say that you will have no idea what they are talking about. This is when you ask questions; learn more about what is going on. There are so many aspects to broadcasting, and the more you work in the field, the more you will grow. Teach yourself as much as you can before you graduate. Utilize the tools your university gives you. Don’t not learn something because it’s not taught in a class, teach yourself and use it for what it’s worth. The more you teach yourself, and learn throughout your college years, the easier the transition will be when you get a job in broadcasting.

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Keeping focused is easy in theory, but as time goes on and things pop up, it begins to be a major challenge. The most important thing for people my age is to receive a college diploma. Now not everybody needs one, but in the communications broadcasting field, it is difficult to advance yourself without one. If your goal is to be a producer, it’s important that you have a diploma in your back pocket so that when you go into an interview you are not looked down upon compared to someone who might have there diploma.

Now this is where many challenges may arise. Many people think that once you get to a certain point in college the degree will come naturally. All you have to do is finish. Well, finishing can be the toughest part. For many people including myself, opportunities are presented and they pay a lot of money. It’s hard to say no to opportunities that can lead to jobs in the near future. I have recently been offered to work many more jobs in the upcoming weeks and they are opportunities that I can’t say no to. I have been asked to work thing such as the MLB All Star Game, PGA Championship, and many other golf tournaments for Fox Sports including the Senior Open. I have also had to turn down opportunities such as the U.S. Tennis Open for ESPN because it over laps with classes. It’s hard for me to chose school over work at this point in my life. The work teaches me more, pays me, and helps me advance myself in the industry that I expect to work in for the rest of my life. It’s an exciting time for myself, and the hardest part right now is staying focused.

I want to help explain how important it is to do as much as you possibly can to both advance yourself, and also get the diploma you desperately need to advance in the industry. I have met many people in the industry who are on production teams, and are great at what they do. However, they have been turned down from many jobs that would pay them more because they do not have a college diploma. Many of my colleagues are great at focusing on getting there degree, but they lack something else. They lack the drive to prove to companies how good they are at what they do. The students I work with are smart, and talented, but they are unable to show this to employers. It’s important that if your goal is to work in this industry someday that you have the drive to do it all. Stay focused with every aspect of the industry, and I promise, in the end, it will be worth it.

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The broadcasting field is one that requires extreme dedication. You will spend most of your time on the road, with little sleep. It’s important to understand that if your goal is to be in this industry some day, then you are going to have to make many sacrifices. One of the big things is having a family. This is a tough industry to have a family in, being that you are on the road most of the time. It’s hard to be around your children and significant other. It’s one of the reasons that the industry has such a high divorce rate as well. It’s important to understand these things before you begin to dedicate your time into an industry that takes up most of your time.

A lot of people do not understand this before they graduate. A lot of my colleges want to be in this industry, but they do not understand the time commitment and dedication that goes into it. For example, a lot of people in college would rather go out to the bar with there friends than staying in and working on things for the upcoming broadcast. It can be frustrating to work with people that are not dedicated into the work that goes into broadcasts. What we do in school compared to the work that goes into professional broadcasts is extremely minimal, and if it’s hard to dedicate your time into the industry now, it will be near impossible to do when it comes to working in the real world.

When you are given opportunities, it’s important to put forth as much time as you possibly can. If this is the industry you want to work in, you have to prove it. You have to prove that you are willing to make sacrifices, and work harder than you’ve ever worked. I will do things such as volunteering to stay later than others even though I might have three times the commute that other people might have. I might also decide that it’s more important to get graphics, video packages, or other work over going out with friends. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to have fun, but there’s a time and a place for it. Make sure to establish yourself before you decide to go out over getting work done. Show people that you are capable of handling multiple tasks and get them done.

If this is the field you want to work in, understand now the dedication you will have to put forth. It will not be easy, and at times it might not be fun, but in the end, it will be worth it as long as it’s what you are passionate about. As long as you know what you are getting yourself into before you begin your career, you will be granted great opportunities throughout your life. Always try your hardest, and dedicate yourself into the work you do. By the end you will look back and be extremely proud of your effort and the end product will be something you will look back on and always remember.

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I have just finished up working with Fox Sports for The U.S. Open in Oakmont Pennsylvania the passed two weeks. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I learned more in the last two weeks than I have in the last three months of classes. The thing about working these events, is you get to understand the terminology of broadcasts. The more you work, the more you understand what things are, what they are called, and what they do. You also learn way more about how the broadcast is operated and all the things that go into the final product.

While working these events, I get to work with a lot of other people who want to become producers like myself someday. What’s important to understand, is tv is a very small world. Although there are a lot of people, everybody knows somebody. The last thing you can do is get on people’s bad sides, or allow them to talk poorly of your work ethic. You want people who are going to vouch for you when you go to get a higher job.

It’s so important to do the little things. For example, showing up early, and staying late. People will notice this and appreciate the work you put in. It’s also important to never complain, or tell people how much you work, or how hard you work. Let people see it and talk about it on there own. People don’t like braggers, and it’s something that will turn them off about you when it comes to working with you in the future.

A lot of people take these opportunities, and ruin it for themselves. They say things that drive employers crazy and make them never want to hire them again. They will do things such as taking naps during work hours, complaining about how tired they are, talking about how much they have to get done instead of just getting it done. So many people would rather make excuses than finding a way to get something done. I have said many of times, when you do these kinds of jobs you will be asked to jump and your response should be “how high”. You always work to find a way to get something done, and if it can’t be done, at least you tried your best.

Always put forth 100% effort every single day. Never leave the workplace feeling that you could have done more. Leave tired knowing you tried your hardest, and left work accomplished and prepared to tackle the next day with full force. If you do these things, and have the best work ethic you can possibly have, it will not go unnoticed, and you will find a job in this field someday.

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One of the most important things to do in this industry is socializing with your coworkers. You never know what kind of people you will meet in the different jobs you work, and you will learn a lot about the industry.

It’s very common to see people be communications majors and sit in the back of the classroom, and not talk to the people around them and also not chime in during class discussions. If you are this person, keep working on your socialization skills. It’s not going to come to you right away, but the more you work on it the more confident you will be in a work setting.

One of the most fun parts of this industry is being able to go out with your coworkers after a long day and get a few drinks and dinner. You will learn so much about the people you are working with. Things such as where they come from, where they’ve worked, how they got to where they are, and much more. These are the best networking opportunities because these people also get to know who you are. This is how you can be privileged with different jobs in the future. My network has greatly increased because I always take advantage of these opportunities. They are my favorite part of the job, and it’s always great to kick back, relax, and laugh with your coworkers after a long days work.

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Asking questions has benefitted me exponentially through my life so far. I have never been afraid to ask questions, whether some people thought they were “dumb” or not. The way I see it, if I don’t know an answer to something then I ask!

Way to often, I see people sitting around not asking questions and then complain when they don’t do well on an assignment. They usually complain because they didn’t understand the directions, but it’s their fault for not asking any questions! I understand some people have an issue with asking questions in a class room setting because they don’t want to sound stupid. However, when you get into the real world, you can’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s better to ask questions when you’re not sure what to do than to do something wrong and get yelled at for screwing up.

What bothers me more than anything when people don’t ask questions is, WE ARE COMMUNICATIONS MAJORS!!!!! Our entire major is oriented around communicating with people! We can’t be afraid to ask questions. It will help you go a long way in life, and you will learn a lot more by asking questions when you don’t know how to do things.

Asking questions goes way beyond the classroom. When I get opportunities with networks as a runner, I take extreme advantage of asking people questions. I could be changing trash in a production truck and ask someone working what their job is. I have yet to meet someone who isn’t happy to teach me what part they play in the broadcast. I’ve learned many different roles people play to make sports broadcast turn out the way they do. Without asking questions in these jobs I would not have learned nearly as much as I have, and the experiences I’ve gotten would not have been nearly as worth it.

As you continue in your career, whether in internships or in school, always ask questions. Your employers, and teachers would rather see that you are asking questions and want things to be correct rather than you guessing and getting it wrong. It’s important to be on the same page as everyone around you so that the work the gets produced is completed as best as it could be. You’ll never be in trouble for asking someone a question, so never be afraid to ask.

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Every person has something they are passionate about. Whether it is animals, politics, sports, school, or shopping, there is something everyone holds close to them. What a lot of people don’t do however is turn their passion into something they want to do for the rest of their lives. I have met many people who love animals and would do almost anything to help animals, but they decided to be an accountant instead of a veterinarian. So many people go into careers that they choose just because they think it will be easy to find a job or won’t be difficult once they find a job. Well whats the point in working if you don’t love what you do? I look around at the students in my department at IUP. Many of them have not put forth effort until they became seniors and realize they have not done anything to put in their resume’s or portfolio’s. A lot of people decide to take on communications media as a major because they think it will be easy. Yes, you might not have to take many math or science courses and it might not be the hardest degree to receive, but it most certainly is one of the hardest fields to find a job in. If communications media is the major you chose to take on through college, it’s important that you find your passion. A lot of people think that you have to find a job in television or radio when you go into communications media, but this isn’t the case at all. For example, say you are a person who loves clothes. Why not learn how to do graphic design? You can edit pictures of models and make magazine covers, or make ad’s to help sell clothes. Or if you love animals, why not get into public relations and work for a zoo and try and bring more people to the zoo through advertising? I found my passion when I was a child and me and my dad would watch sports together. He would wake me up when he went to work and turn on ESPN and I would sit and watch it for hours. Once I figured out that I wanted to work in sports, I had to find my place. The path I have taken so far is the production field and although I still have a long way to go, I have fallen in love with it. I love learning about production and everything that goes into it. I have made my passion of sports a reality through communications media. Every person that takes on this major can have a career in the field, but without finding what your passion in this business, you will never enjoy what you do with your diploma when you are done. So find something you love, keep your mind open, and you will find a job you will love going to for the rest of your life.

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