Senior Year....Coming to a Close!

My Capstone project is something that I will always hold near and dear to my heart! It gave me an opportunity to express my creativity and to show how my internship experience really helped me with the rest of my time here at Westminster. It also gave me a chance to work with my mentors again at the station! I don’t know what I would’ve done without their advice. Last spring when Mr. Weaver first told us that we would need to do a project at the end of the fall semester, and have a mentor who we could go to for advice I thought it was a crazy idea. At that point in my life I thought I knew all there was about putting a resume tape together, but boy oh boy was I wrong. They helped me to learn how to sequence everything, how to choose what has the most impact, and what looks good! I can never thank them enough! I just hope that if I am ever given the opportunity to have this much impact on a student’s career and future that I can be just as helpful!

After the conclusion of my project it taught me to always look at my work from a different light! What may not look good to me or impact me in my everyday life could really impact those who watch me on television. I never really understood the point of video-journalism or “VJing” until I decided that that is what I wanted to do and started doing it. In the end doing all of this on my own (shooting, editing, reporting) will help make me more qualified when it comes to my job search and it will make me stand out. I mean, how many other people do you know who actually like to carry their own gear, spend a great deal of time editing, or coming up with their own questions…..I do! In the end I will get to be creative, I will get to show my passion towards the story, and it will be exactly what I want! It may take a lot of time, but it will be what I want in the long run and that is all that really matters!

It Only Takes One Person to Make a Difference!

This is one of the hardest entries that I have had to respond to in awhile. I am supposed to deconstruct one of the presentations that I have seen thus far. The truth is besides mine, I have only seen three others and they were ALL fantastic! If I had to chose one though I would like to deconstruct Shayna Marti’s Documentary just because it was so different. Shayna did a documentary on a faith based community volunteer project called “His Hands Ministry.” Members of area churches get together and volunteer in the summer to help people up-date and maintain their homes because they are just not able to do it themselves.
Shayna worked hard all summer to shoot this project while it was going on and her work paid off. She had fantastic footage and even took pictures to put in her documentary that really helped add that special component to her documentary. She told the story of what happened everyday from beginning to end days 1 thru 5. Her story was so compelling that it made me want to be active in the community and get out in volunteer. I come from a town and family where we are used to having everything done for us…I don’t have to worry about yard work, or painting the house. We have people that do that for us…but we pay them and this is volunteer. After watching this documentary I felt like a spoiled brat and I felt like I just wanted to get out and make a difference in the world.
If I could think of one thing that needed work it may be the story telling. It was written really well, but the way Shayna talked over the shots it just seemed like she was in a hurry. This isn’t her fault but rather a habit. We are all used to reading our newscasts for the radio and we only get two minutes to tell the story. For this though should could have as much time as she needed to tell the story…so it might have been a little more effective if should we have just slowed down and read more like she was telling a story not reporting.
Shayna did a fantastic job! It seemed like this was a project that she was really passionate about and it showed. Everytime I watch one of her documentaries it just makes me feel like I am superwomen and can accomplish anything! Great Job!

One Step Closer!

I never thought I would be standing in front of my peers, faculty, and my family giving my Capstone presentation as a Broadcast Communications major. I came to Westminster with the intent of becoming a dentist…which meant that I would be a biology major. The short version of the story is that I was not interested in Bio, I couldn’t understand what I was reading or why I was dissecting animals when all I wanted to do was work on teeth? When it became time to switch majors and try something new and exciting it was hard for me to think of things that I had an interest, but then the light bulb turned on…I love sports!

I wasn’t very interested in going into the field of sports management or sports medicine…that would only mean more bio and math classes. By Mom was actually the one who suggested going into broadcast communications. Should told me that speaking in front of people and being an overall “people person” this could definitely be something that I was good at. The rest is history!

Monday I did present my senior capstone project which was my resume tape. Since my internship I have become very interested in Video Journalism and of course even more intrigued by anchoring! So I decided that my project was going to be to put together a sports package for Titan-Town sports every other week, and to meet with my mentor Bill on what makes a good resume tape, and then present his advice and my resume tape as my capstone presentation.

It seemed to go over well. I had my family, friends, and professors watch my tape and then they were able to give me feed back. All of my hard work seemed to pay off considering the past few weeks that I have been putting this resume tape together everything that could go wrong has, but that’s behind me! The reason is because I felt like I did a great job and so did everyone else who came to support me (which meant a lot to me!) I even had two special guests. Bill Castrovince and Joe Allusio (another sports anchor at the station I interned at)! They were such a hit! Everyone got to talk to them and they are such down to earth guys….I even got my picture take with them which is the one I posted so make sure you check it out! Since I was the first one to go in my class I can now just sit back and relax! I feel like I have a big weight lifted off of my shoulders now that I am finished with my project I also feel that my project was a great accomplishment! I am now one step closer to stepping out into the “real world!”

Let the Games Begin!

Our Capstone assignment this week is to choose a job we would like to apply for and then create a cover letter in response to the job.

I REPEAT this is just a class assignment!

Sports Reporter / Anchor
Job Description
Make your mark in Broadcasting. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the nation, programming 58 stations located in 36 geographically diverse markets, with 33 of those in the top 47 markets in the United States. Our success is the result of extraordinary employees and an exemplary management team who believes in a vision and is dedicated to making Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc a communications powerhouse. We are advancing the world of Broadcasting and we want YOU to join our winning team! If you love sports... this is the job you have been waiting for! WKEFABC 22 AND WRGT FOX 45 in Dayton, Ohio has an immediate opening for a full-time Sports Reporter/Weekend Anchor. WKEF/WRGT maintains a strong commitment to sports... covering everything from high school to the pros. We need a proven utility player... someone who has the ability to report, shoot, edit, produce, and anchor. We have DVC Pro cameras and AVID editors. You may be trained to operate a live microwave van. We're looking for creativity and energy. Flexibility is also important... expect frequent schedule changes to accommodate coverage needs. No phone calls please.

( Sample Cover Letter)

Dear Mr.Casey:
I am writing in reply to the Sports Reporter/Anchor Position. I am perfect for this position because I am very dedicated, creative, and like challenges. I am knowledgeable in most sports, and have a passion for telling people what is going on in the world of sports. I have played high school and collegiate tennis so that is one sport I am extremely bright in.
For the past year I have been the sports anchor for our college cable television show Titan Town Sports. I have been taking the Video Journalist approach where I have shot packages, edited them, and then anchored them during the segment. During the segment I not only focus on local sports, but surrounding professional sports as well like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians. I am also the executive producer of the show where I create the rundown and make sure everything runs smoothly. The one thing I like about producing is that I get to demonstrate my creativeness by thinking outside of the box. I have done this by doing packages on The Special Olympics Bocce Program in Lawrence County and how New Castle Thunder Owner Anthony Razzano was severely burned in a garage fire, but has overcame that slim chance or survival and has started two organizations.
Thank you for your time. Although I may not know every detail about every sport, I am willing to learn. I hope you give me that opportunity and will consider me for this job. I promise you won’t regret your decision.
Sincerely,

You Want Me to Do What?

Classes aren’t usually something that I struggle with…. Of course they are challenging but not something I struggle with. Until I had to take a theatre class as part of my broadcasting major requirement. I’ve always been interested in theatre and have been in a few plays, but I have always been a little shy. Maybe even a little embarrassed and scared that I am going to do or say something that is going to make me like stupid. Not feeling confident in my abilities and most importantly myself is sometimes hard for me, but the feeling of getting up in acting in front of someone just made me feel uneasy. I know I have mentioned this class before but it was voice and diction.
When I walked into my first day of class I didn’t know what to expect. I am a very curious person so I did my research. I asked around to older broadcasting majors about what the class was going to be like. I kept getting the same response " That class is quite the class." So what would you think if someone said this to you? I just kept thinking to myself, "okay so is that a good thing or a bad thing." After my first day of class I knew exactly what kind of class this was…. a bad one! Just when he was going over the syllabus I heard three words that I dread hearing…. in front of. We would have to do a monologue in front of the class, do exercises in front of the class, AND practice all of this stuff in front of the class I knew from that point that I wanted to just curl up in a ball somewhere and forget that I ever heard any of this. I know why would I ever be scared of doing anything in front of people? I am on the radio and host a television show, but just think for a moment…. I am never really in front of people. On the radio, you stand in a studio by yourself most of the time and talk to people and relay information. In television, of course you have to read in front of people, but they are all part of the crew and are broadcasting majors. So they are either people I know, or have to go through the same things I have to. This class though was an Intellectual Perspective class, which to sum up for you means that anyone could take it.
One of the scariest things I ever did in that class was recite my monologue. I had to get up in front of everyone and recite something from memory…. oh yeah…and become that character. This was the hardest thing for me, but guess what, I did a great job. I didn’t miss any of my lines and Dr. Mackenzie even mentioned how great of a job I did! Although this was done towards the end of the semester it helped me feel very confident in myself. I knew that if I conquered this I could conquer anything! Now I like to act, scary huh! I never would’ve guessed in a million years that I would ever say that! This class helped me realize that I am unstoppable…I can do anything I put my mind to!

Politics, News, Sports?

I have always been interested in politics. It’s not like I know anything about Politics or even like to discuss them, but at the same time I am fascinated by the topics. When people talk about politics in conversation, I really admire them because they know a lot about something I really don’t. I guess this is the fascinating part. If I were traveling back to Westminster ten years from now Bill Sadler is definitely the person I would like to see how his life has been going. He’s a very well rounded person so I could see him doing anything, but going in to politics I could definitely see him, who knows maybe even be the mayor.
While at Westminster Bill has been involved in several broadcasting areas, meaning I have seen him do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I have seen him on camera, anchoring our cable television show The County Line, directing, and behind the camera shooting. He’s very gifted and has been blessed with so much talent that I could see him even doing something behind the scenes or anchoring the news. He is one person in our class that I feel is determined to be a success. One trait about Bill that makes me curious is he has a direction he wants to go in, which I believe is anchoring, but it will be interesting to see what path he takes. Is it anchoring sports, news, a political show, or is he the mayor of a town. I guess that is a good reason for me to keep in contact with him after graduation, or just be curious everyday after until I meet up with him again. No matter which path he takes I know he will do fantastic! I just want to wish him the best of luck…it’s a tough business but he will standout no matter where he goes in it!

I Think He Really Does Know Everything!

I have to admit this is one of my favorite entries, yet! The one upcoming Westminster Broadcasting Major who I know and admire is Andrew Borts. I have been in many classes and practicums with Andy because although he is a year younger than I am because I came into the major late so I was with first year students during my first year as a Broadcast major. Long Story..I know! Anyway the first time we met we were in a high school football remote. He came walking down bragging about how he worked at a big radio station, and in high school he did a lot of work with cameras and other related equipment. I am not going to lie I was pretty intimidated! He is pretty big into radio, and although he does a little bit of television, its obvious radio is his passion.
Andy is not only great at what he does; he’s a great friend too! Although he intimidated me at first, last fall we had a shift together anchoring the news and he showed me the ropes. I had never been on the radio before and I know it didn’t sound very pretty at first, but Andy never once made me feel like I was terrible even if I was. Whether you need help writing, editing, shooting, or just have a question in general Andy is always eager to help! He has such a bright future ahead of him! He is someone who I look up to, and am not afraid to admit it.
One of my other fondest memories was when Andy spent 2 hours helping me fix an audio problem that I had tried fixing on one of my packages. I tried day after day, hour after hour, and could not figure out the problem. Instead of letting me take a zero Andy helped me until the problem was resolved! When he makes it big in radio one day, or even maybe television I know that he will do a fantastic job! He knows so much, yet doesn’t let it swell his head! When in comes time for him to apply for jobs, any station would be crazy not to hire him!