The Tide of Capstone Crashes Down...

Wow, let me just say I can't believe it is already the 3rd week of November! This semester is flying by and we only have a few weeks left in the semester. Normally this wouldn't phase me much as I would prepare for finals and holiday breaks... but this year is much different.
This is my second semester in my senior capstone class, and the “tide” of capstone is crashing to shore rapidly. My classmates and I have been hard at work the past months working on our senior projects. When choosing our projects, we all decided to go very different routes, which is a good thing and lends creativity and uniqueness to our class. Along with our projects we are required to present our projects to our capstone professor, classmates and any other people we invite. Already thus far, four of my fellow classmates have presented their projects and they have been amazing! For this reason, I decided to summarize and deconstruct a bit of each of these projects because I believe they all deserve equal amounts of attention!
The first brave soul to step into the presentation pool was Melissa Maines. Over the years, I have grown to know Melissa quite well as a partner in many class projects. I have watched her grown into the successful broadcaster she is today and I think her project definitely displayed these skills. Melissa has been working all semester with the sports segment of The County Line. She has basically taken over the responsibility of the whole segment by producing, writing and hosting the sports. For her project, she reflected on all the work she has put into sports over the past semester and this was indeed impressive.
Next to present her project was Amanda Conway, or “Red” as we like to call her in the department. Amanda has also been a close friend to me in the department over the years and has impressed me the most this year with her endless efforts at radio news. Amanda has been one student who has persistently pursued the job of on camera anchoring and reporting. For her project, Amanda analyzed exactly what you need to do (and what not to do) when applying for an on air reporting position at a TV station. She also put together a resume tape of all of her best work over her years at Westminster, and also at her internship in Erie, WSEE.
The third student to present their project was Nicky Piszczor. Nicky is one of those people who you gasp at when even thinking of how much work she has done in her capstone project. I went to view Nicky’s debut of her documentary on the history of Lawrence County and was taken a back by the beauty presented in front of me. I was amazed by the movie that Nicky put together, she effectively combined story-telling, and professional shots while still making the whole film flow.
Finally, the last person to present this past week was Shayna Marti. Shayna has always been a determined student as well. I got to know her well this summer interning by her side in Youngstown at WKBN TV. Shayna took the skills she learned at her internship of story-telling and writing and combined them with her amazing work on camera to capture the essence of a documentary about lending a helping hand. She followed a mission sponsored by the local Lawrence Community Action Partnership and told the story of the compassionate volunteers that work for those in need in the county.
At this point, I do feel a little nervous but I believe more anxious to present my project. I know I have put a lot of time and effort into my project and hope to show my fellow classmates what I have done and hopefully teach them a bit like they have for me.

Oh The Places You Will Go!

This was the theme for this year's senior only "Dine and Shine" dinner. Each year, the Career Center puts on a formal dinner for seniors ready to graduate in the spring. In additional to a very delicious meal and desserts, we were treated to a fashion show with underclassman modeling proffesional business wear and casual business wear. This was helpful because we were able to see in person what was acceptable for an interview, on the job and in a more casual work atmosphere. I actually had an experience my sophomore year modeling for the Dine n Shine so I had an idea of what I was in for coming into this dinner. In addition to the fashion show, we were given many tips on how to act during an interview for the job of our dreams. I learned so many things from the speech that will put me in a better place to interview for a job. First, we learned that most 2nd interviews happen over a meal. The employer will invite the potential employee to a dinner (usually in a nice restaurant atmospher) to discuss in further detail your aspirations for a job. We learned many valuable dining tips like how to use all the different silverware in front of you, how to use your napkin during dinner and how many drinks you may order. The general rule of thumb for drinks is do not order any unless your company and employer are drinking then one per hour is acceptable. Also it is common practice to not order too much food. Our speaker said it is a good idea to eat prior to the interview so you are not starving and ravinous during your meal. It is betterto cut and take small bites so you do not look glutonous. We also learned that a firm handshake is a must. You don't want to reach out and shake your potential employeer's hand with a weak handshake. Overall the first impression you make during a dinner interview is one that will stick with an employer for quite some time so it is always good to be on your best behavior and practice these common courtesies. This year's Dine and Shine gave me a very good inlook on what I can expect during an interview, what is acceptable to wear and how to act to impress and employer!

The Applications Begin!

For capstone this week, our professor asked us to respond to a job listing we found in a field we want to work in. For over the past year I have been working on promotions for my senior project, for this reason I have chosen a promotions job. THIS IS A CLASS ASSIGNMENT -- NOT A REAL COVER LETTER/APPLICATION

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Promotion Manager, Radio Disney

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City Greensboro
State NC
Position Type Full-time
Requisition ID 178721

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Radio Disney in Greensboro, NC seeks a motivated Promotions Manager in the Greensboro market. Radio Disney is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company.

Responsibilities: Supervise and manage promotion department including event staffing; personality hiring, training, and scheduling. Coordinate all station promotions and event activities to include equipment, prizing, games and activities. Oversee local production of station promo’s and occasional commercials. Explore, identify and present revenue opportunities for the station. Maintain high quality operational equipment such as vehicles, audio equipment etc… May include nights and weekends

Requirements
Education: High school diploma, some college preferred

Work Experience: Radio promotions experience preferred, prior performance based work related experience a plus.

Technical Skills: Basic radio production, sound system usage, PowerPoint, and other PC skills

Non-technical Skills: Highly detail oriented, highly energetic, lift up to 50 pounds, enjoy public contact, and enjoy working with children

Cover Letter:
Hello Disney,
I would like to take the time to introduce myself. I am Nathan Dodd, a senior Broadcast Communications major and Public Relations minor at Westminster College in Pennsylvania. I am responding to the Promotions Manager position for Radio Disney. I think I would be an excellent canidate for this job because I am a very enthusiatic and hard working person. In addition to my good work ethic, I have had a vast amount of experience in radio and promotions with my time spent here in college. At Westminster, we are given the chance to work hands on in the radio and TV stations from freshman year. Ever since I started my collegic career I have been hard at work learning as much as I can about the broacasting and promotions field. I am even currently working on a promotions campaign for our college radio station producing radio promos and advertising the station. My love for broadcasting and promotions will shine through as I work for your company managing your station. I'm a people person and love to work with the public and think that the interaction with the public will further my enthusiasm with ths career. I am also a huge fan of Disney and think that my enthusiasm and work ethic will match your station's mission perfectly. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!