RE: College radio talent

[Jeremy Mixer <mixer@zoso.net>]

On Mon, 26 Aug 2002, Cooper Fox wrote:

> Speaking of communications colleges...  How do you
> ladies and gentlemen feel about them?  75% of the ppl
> in the business that I talk to about them swear up and
> down that they are a waste of time...  Personally, I
> feel that the program I went through would have
> benefitted from a more jam it in your face
> attittude(sp?).  I enjoyed every minute of my college
> experience but felt that much of what i learned was
> just a rehashing of things that i had been taught in
> my time in the biz back in high school.

I think one thing that is important to keep in mind is that unlike you,
most of us had no expirience prior to going to school. And there are a lot
of things you really cannot learn until you are actually working in the
biz. They can tell you, you can KNOW, but you can't UNDERSTAND until that
happens. I knew a little about radio hen I started school at NESCom. For
someone like you, all you were basically getting was credentials. But for
someone like me, I wouldn;t have been as prepared to work. When I went to
school, I went for one sole purpose....to learn how to do radio because I
wanted to work at WBLM. I realized that while my goal is not unrealistic,
I can't be picky. And somehow I still managed to get a job eventually at a
station with a very similar format to WBLM, and I am very happy where I am
now at WKIT. Sure I could have learned stuff while working, but I wouldn;t
have been as prepared. Most, I'd sday 75% of the people in this market all
went to the same school we both did. I personally feel I benefit
(benefitted?) from ym education there, and it was them who helped me get
my first job at WBZN, if it weren;t for them, I mgiht not be working in
radio today. I had no expirience, and working ast the college station WHSN
gave me expirience and air check tapes. I personally think my time there
was money well spent, although I saw no need to go onto the 4 year program
they opened up....2 years to learn what I needed and here I am.

Jeremy