Shannon McEnerney | Nov. 15, 2009
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| Photo by Jessica Haney |
| Andrew Countryman, assistant business editor at the Chicago Tribune, counseled MJ Slaby on her clips during Friday’s Experts Workshop. The event brought three alumni to campus to advise students. |
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But intimidation gave way to comfort as soon as Kuzydym met Overton and the two sat down to talk, with Overton sharing her experiences and offering Kuzydym advice for how she can improve her skills.
“She made the atmosphere so comfortable and it was even more comforting to know she is an IU alum,” Kuzydym said. “She shares the same grounds and knows what life here is about.”
Overton (BAJ ’05) was one of three alumni who visited the School of Journalism on Friday to meet, consult with and offer students to suggestions on how to improve their skills.
Andrew Countryman (BA ’83, MA ’91)), assistant business editor at the Chicago Tribune, and Scott Goldberg (BAJ ’94), vice president at Fleishman-Hillard public relations firm in Chicago, were the other two alumni providing students with direct feedback. Students chose which expert in accordance with their career goals. Countryman represented print, while Goldberg represented public relations and Overton covered broadcast. All students submitted portfolios with clips, resumes and cover letters in advance so the experts arrived having already seen and written comments about each of the student’s portfolios.
This Expert’s Workshop is the first formal program of its kind. Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Michael Evans formulated the idea when he realized that Bloomington was at a geographical disadvantage from New York and Los Angeles, where inviting professionals into the classrooms to meet with students is easy. Creating a specific program may be a way to encourage this kind of interaction here.
Evans said based on this workshop’s success, he plans to host one each semester in the future, given the positive response from this one. Overton, Countryman and Goldberg were the first three Evans contacted, and each responded to him immediately with a “yes,” he said. Dean Brad Hamm also supported the idea, Evans said.
Overton said she was flattered and honored to be asked to participate.
"It’s always a pleasure to go back to the journalism school and it was especially an honor to provide feedback to the talented group of students we have at the journalism school," she said.
Students said they benefited from the event beyond the chance to listen to an outside professional’s advice and perspective. Senior Lindsay Gruen said she is trying to network to get jobs. An aspiring public relations journalist, she met with Goldberg.
“My professors have told me that 90 percent of jobs out there aren’t published,” Gruen said. “I’m trying to network and I thought the workshop would be a good opportunity.”
Senior Lauren Clason said Countryman’s advice was helpful. As a journalism student interested in business reporting, Clason appreciated business editor Countryman’s tips on what was missing from her stories. From Clason’s portfolio clips, he posed questions a reader may have and talked about ways to include more complete information.
Junior Zina Kumok, an IDS basketball reporter who also met with Countryman, said she received ideas that she hadn’t thought about.
“Not that the IDS isn’t a great place, but it’s nice to have someone with 20 years of experience look at your stuff rather than someone who’s 20 years old,” Kumok said.
Kumok asked Countryman about her upcoming interviews for internships at the Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune. She asked if she should mention her study abroad experience in London, where she interned, and Countryman told Kumok yes, because employers are looking for well-rounded candidates with different types of experiences.
“It was good to receive feedback I haven’t received before,” Kumok said.
One of Kuzydym’s favorite aspects about the workshop was the chance to learn about Overton and her experiences.
“I’m really interested in the Big Ten Network because now it is everywhere around campus,” Kuzydym said. She was intrigued by Overton’s path to achieve the position she has today.
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| Photo by Jessica Haney |
| WTWO-TV and Big Ten Network broadcaster Larra Overton talked to students considering broadcast careers. |
One of Overton’s tips that Kuzydym did write down was that people and emotion should drive stories.
“I love that,” Kuzydym said.
Overton said this was the most important piece of advice she conveyed to all the students she met with because she has learned throughout her broadcast experience to find ways to incorporate emotion into her stories.
"I really wanted to pass on to them the importance of making sports stories interesting to everyone, not just sports fans," Overton said. "In any sports story, you are going to have a winner or a loser, but what is unique most often is the emotion that was played throughout the game."
Overton also helped Kuzydym look at her clips in a new way.
“I realized that one of my clips that I thought was strong is not as strong, and I have stronger ones,” Kuzydym said. “She saw stuff in my articles no one else has.”
And while the workshop’s surface motive was to help students improve their craft, the workshop’s ulterior motive was introducing students to those working in the field, Evans said. Assuming the conversations go beyond paper, the students will be able to make contact in that industry and know that person.
“To be able to communicate and explore options in the industry is a huge, huge benefit,” Evans said.
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