Interview with Broadcasting Alumni

Transcript

When I was in high school looking for something to do, everyone has these ideas, thinking they know what they really wanted to do. I really didn't. I knew I wanted to do something technical. I wanted to have some hands-on experience with things, and also be able to communicate with people and when I came though the department in 1987 it was a great place. I saw that people were actually doing hands-on productions. Part of the classroom routine wasn't only sitting behind a desk talking about theories - you were actually out there in the field doing productions. It was amazing to me at the time that I was actually getting credit for this. As I was attending here, I remember going to class and having so much fun doing it that I almost felt guilty, that I should be doing something else, but I was learning a tremendous amount at the time.

You know, this is a smaller university that offers great, great things to the students. It is really hands-on. It seems to me that I sit there and think, "Gosh, I am really glad that I went to Western.", because I came out with something I can use as an adult while running my own business and I know that would not have happened had I gone some place that didn't make me have to do all the different things I have to do as a broadcasting major.

It just seemed more like a family atmosphere. They were like, "Hey, if you need anything let's talk about it first, and let's get it resolved. It wasn't like a business, like most of your higher institutions, where if you fail it’s "Sorry Charlie", you’re out the door. Here it was more like, "Hey, let's try to get some help for you."

I looked at the University of Illinois. I was a big fan of their basketball team. I wanted to help out with their basketball team, just to be a part of it. But, when I went to Western it was obvious that they took this field more seriously. U of I was more theory, more hands-off. With WIU, the mind set was 'We want to prepare you to go out and actually do this. We want to get you ready for that job.' Also, such a large school, like many in this state, you kind of get lost in the shuffle. Here at Western it's not too tiny, but it's small enough where the professors know your name, professors can work with you individually and that really allows you to develop faster and allows you to have more skills than you would at other schools.

The same thing about the instruction at Western is that the classes are so small and that the instructors have an interest and a concern that I feel is unmatched. The amount of attention that a student receives is wonderful and I enjoyed it tremendously.

You know what's interesting to me, is when you run a company, especially an advertising company, I find that I am using all of my skills I learned here at Western - which I find pretty amazing. When I first started I used to always say, "You know what? I'm not interested in learning how to do that. I simply want to sit in front of the camera or be on the radio. I have no need to learn how to do all this editing or learn how to write scripts. Fine, fine, fine. I'll sit here and do it, but this is not what I am all about." I do it all. I do audio-editing. I do script-writing. For all of that, I am so glad I did do the whole realm of all the different aspects, and you sit there and you learn how the whole product and whole production comes together from every angle even though at the time I was doing it, it was certainly not something I was very happy about. The thing I liked most about WIU's broadcasting program is that it allowed you to get your hands dirty right away. I have friends who have gone to other schools and say you have to be a senior or at least a junior before you even get to touch a piece of equipment. Ours is a field that is very hands-on, it's really an art form. It's not like history where you memorize something or math where you learn an equation. You really have to get your hands dirty with it. Being able from the get-go to producing TV stories and radio stories allowed me to have that much more time to develop my skills. So when I left WIU, I felt very prepared to step into a radio job. I didn’t feel like I really had any deficiencies. I think if I didn't have all that time to prepare I wouldn't have felt ready to get out in the work world.

What's happening is I have no doubt in my mind that the graduates out of this university are definitely prepared for a career in broadcasting whether it be in front of a camera or behind. I think it really is a great program.

You know, just great times here. I really miss it sometimes.