Growing up in Pittsburgh there is only one person I ever trusted with my sports information. Considered one of the most respected sportscasters in Pittsburgh, I always turned to Stan Savran. He is the co-host of FSN Pittsburgh’s SAVRAN ON SPORTSBEAT since 1992. Savran brings over 30 years of experience to sports fans in Pittsburgh. For all his knowledge and hard work he was rewarded with the honor of being inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Now I can’t say that Stan Savran inspired me to become a sports broadcaster, but I can say watching him makes me want to be a better one. He knows so much about everything that sometimes it’s hard not to agree with what he says. Pittsburgh does have other sportscasters like Bob Pompeani, Mark Madden (now fired but still great), Rob King, and Tim Benz. All are great, but none come close to what Stan Savran is.
People are always asking me what I plan on doing once I’m done with College. And I tell them all, I want to work at FSN sports. That would be my dream job coming out of school. I would take any job there just to get my foot in the door and the chance to maybe work with Savran. I don’t care if I made their coffee, did some shooting, editing, directed a show, produce or even all the about. Anything would be awesome for me. Plus not to mention I live five minutes from the place too so the drive would be short.
I never really thought of my self as a sportscaster and that’s funny saying that now that Im the host of the Hounds Rounds Up. Which if you don’t know is a Video Blog about a local High School football team I do. Now I find myself thinking do people see me as their “Stan Savran” for the Wilmington Grey Hound Football? And that thought is pretty cool. So I asked myself, is this something I can see me doing? Deep down I really think there is a part of me that can do it with no problem. But other part says there is no way I can be as good as Savran or even Pompeani and the others I have mention. I also think I do a pretty decent job on the Hounds Round Up and I see no reason why one day I cant be working at FSN Sports. So with that said, Mr. Savran, you may not know who I am, but one day you will. I’ll see you yinszer’s at the water cooler.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Oh! The People You Meet
As you travel on your path through life you come across many different people. Some of these people may be friends, co-workers, and even professors. No matter you who meet or how long you may know them. Everyone you come in contact with has some kind of affect on your life. Some more then others, and sometimes you meet someone who has a total impact on the course your life takes.
When I made my first steps onto this college campus I had these first thoughts come to mind, “what the hell am I doing here.” I really had no idea what I was doing, who I was, where I was going and most of all, what major would I make a career out of. As all freshmen do, you make your way from class to class and you begin to take more interest in one then in other. You begin to develop and sense of what your cable of and where you fit the best. For me, it took me awhile to come across Broadcasting but I did. Now in my fifth year I have not looked back. But I did not get here by accident, thanks to the long talks and advice from Dr. Rhoads.
I came in listed as a political science major and Dr. Rhoads was my first adviser. It only took me a few weeks to realize that political science was not for me. So in a search to find a new major I spent many hours in Dr. Rhoads office. Now I can’t pint point one thing that he said that stood out the most. Just that he always had a way of telling me what I wanted to hear and more importantly what I needed to hear.
Sometimes I felt bad that I spent so much time in his office; whether I needed to add drop a class or to just get his opinion on something. Never once did Dr. Rhoads ever turn me down, but was always there to at lest listen.
After my first two years I was finding my footing and finally declared Broadcasting as my major. With that change would come a new adviser in Dr. “B” and no more Dr. Rhoads. To him, he probably thinks and didn’t have much of an influence on me but he did. Sometimes it’s the small things that people say to you that have the most impact. So with all this said, thanks Dr. Rhoads for helping find my way.
When I made my first steps onto this college campus I had these first thoughts come to mind, “what the hell am I doing here.” I really had no idea what I was doing, who I was, where I was going and most of all, what major would I make a career out of. As all freshmen do, you make your way from class to class and you begin to take more interest in one then in other. You begin to develop and sense of what your cable of and where you fit the best. For me, it took me awhile to come across Broadcasting but I did. Now in my fifth year I have not looked back. But I did not get here by accident, thanks to the long talks and advice from Dr. Rhoads.
I came in listed as a political science major and Dr. Rhoads was my first adviser. It only took me a few weeks to realize that political science was not for me. So in a search to find a new major I spent many hours in Dr. Rhoads office. Now I can’t pint point one thing that he said that stood out the most. Just that he always had a way of telling me what I wanted to hear and more importantly what I needed to hear.
Sometimes I felt bad that I spent so much time in his office; whether I needed to add drop a class or to just get his opinion on something. Never once did Dr. Rhoads ever turn me down, but was always there to at lest listen.
After my first two years I was finding my footing and finally declared Broadcasting as my major. With that change would come a new adviser in Dr. “B” and no more Dr. Rhoads. To him, he probably thinks and didn’t have much of an influence on me but he did. Sometimes it’s the small things that people say to you that have the most impact. So with all this said, thanks Dr. Rhoads for helping find my way.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
My Place In The NewsRoom
Hello everyone, I’m back after having an amazing but busy summer. I finished my internship with WTAE 4 and it was the best experience on my life. Not only did I meet good people but also have a feel for how the business really works.
Going into my first day at WTAE channel 4 I really had known idea what to expect. In fact I was really nervous about it. I didn’t know what they would expect from me, what would they have me doing and most of all, would I be able to do it right? Just like anything else you always fear what you don’t know and this was no different.
Entering the news room I was taken back a little by all the commotion that was going on. Phones were ringing left and right and everyone were typing hard at their computers to pump out today’s sorties. In the back I saw Rege Bononis the Managing Editor at WTAE and also my boss. He showed me around the station and introduced me to some of the people I would be working with. Everyone I met was so nice and all told me if I needed anything, just let them know. I also met a girl by the name of Sara Bower our Assignment Desk manager, and found out that she is a Westminster alumnus! How about that?
As the weeks went by I was given opportunities to do different things. One week I was with reporters, sometimes helping to write scripts, and other times I would be in the back editing my own work. What I was really finding out was my place in the news room. I starting thinking to myself even from the first day, where do I see myself at this station if I were to work here? And this whole experience was about what I really want to do with broadcasting once I graduate.
After the first month I starting checking off jobs that I know are not for me or jobs that I know I’m not cable of. The first to fall into this list was reporting and anchoring. Seeing the talent and skill of these anchors and reporters were remarkable. They truly are skilled at what they do. Plus from my understanding of these positions are highly competitive and hard to get.
Anther job I thought I thought I might be interested in was producing. Now going into this internship I didn’t know that producers also wrote all the scripts. Sitting at a computer all day writing stories is not something I really care to do. I believe I would be able too just don’t really want to do it.
One of the positions I can see myself at would be directing. A few nights a week I would go into master control room and watch the director work his magic. Its pretty similar to the way we do it at the County Line. Of course just on a little larger scale.
I realizes now how important an internship is. It’s a chance to gain some great experience and make important connections that could help you land a job down the road. But for me it was more than that. It was a chance to get a taste what I really want to do. Although whatever career path I take might not be in news. I know now that if it were I would enjoy editing, directing, and photography. It is night and day to do the same jobs at school then at a real TV station. I highly recommend that everyone do an internship. You would be foolish not too. I learned a lot of things about myself and some things I was happy to find out. Heading into my last semester at school I know now what I need to focus on.
Going into my first day at WTAE channel 4 I really had known idea what to expect. In fact I was really nervous about it. I didn’t know what they would expect from me, what would they have me doing and most of all, would I be able to do it right? Just like anything else you always fear what you don’t know and this was no different.
Entering the news room I was taken back a little by all the commotion that was going on. Phones were ringing left and right and everyone were typing hard at their computers to pump out today’s sorties. In the back I saw Rege Bononis the Managing Editor at WTAE and also my boss. He showed me around the station and introduced me to some of the people I would be working with. Everyone I met was so nice and all told me if I needed anything, just let them know. I also met a girl by the name of Sara Bower our Assignment Desk manager, and found out that she is a Westminster alumnus! How about that?
As the weeks went by I was given opportunities to do different things. One week I was with reporters, sometimes helping to write scripts, and other times I would be in the back editing my own work. What I was really finding out was my place in the news room. I starting thinking to myself even from the first day, where do I see myself at this station if I were to work here? And this whole experience was about what I really want to do with broadcasting once I graduate.
After the first month I starting checking off jobs that I know are not for me or jobs that I know I’m not cable of. The first to fall into this list was reporting and anchoring. Seeing the talent and skill of these anchors and reporters were remarkable. They truly are skilled at what they do. Plus from my understanding of these positions are highly competitive and hard to get.
Anther job I thought I thought I might be interested in was producing. Now going into this internship I didn’t know that producers also wrote all the scripts. Sitting at a computer all day writing stories is not something I really care to do. I believe I would be able too just don’t really want to do it.
One of the positions I can see myself at would be directing. A few nights a week I would go into master control room and watch the director work his magic. Its pretty similar to the way we do it at the County Line. Of course just on a little larger scale.
I realizes now how important an internship is. It’s a chance to gain some great experience and make important connections that could help you land a job down the road. But for me it was more than that. It was a chance to get a taste what I really want to do. Although whatever career path I take might not be in news. I know now that if it were I would enjoy editing, directing, and photography. It is night and day to do the same jobs at school then at a real TV station. I highly recommend that everyone do an internship. You would be foolish not too. I learned a lot of things about myself and some things I was happy to find out. Heading into my last semester at school I know now what I need to focus on.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Capstone: The Half Way Mark
Going into Capstone I really had no idea what to expect. I was even more confused when Mr. Weaver wanted us to apply for the Amazing Race. Funny how things always tend to work them selves out and things become clearer as you move through. The Amazing Race application was a cleaver way for us to reflect on who we are and were we have come from. Well some of us still struggle to answer the question of who we are, others have come into their own. For me it was realizing how good of a fit I am to Broadcasting. I have always been good and comfortable talking in front of people. For me it has always been a strong point of mine. Dealing with people was never a problem. Having two older brothers I socialized with older people all the time which I believed helped me mature faster then most of my friends around me. Through my four years here I learned in Broadcasting you deal and work with people everyday. I am lucky enough to come across this major when I did or else I still might be a political science major.
Anyways back to capstone. Basically we are asked to take all the skills that we have learned in the four years we have been here and apply them to a project that will in the end help us land a job. On this journey we have to pass a few hurdles too. For this semester we were given a test in video production. We were asked to shoot a news story or any kind of video demonstrating our skills to make professional videos. I was extremely nervous about this because everything in capstone is pass/fail and it’s a real scary thought. My partner and I for the Amazing Race decided to use our audition tape for our video skills test. The good news is we ended up passing and took anther step to finishing capstone.
The next step was to come up with an idea for our project. Most people seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do. Well for me, I was completely lost. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do or for that matter where to really start. I knew I wanted to do something that I would love and look forward to working on. Of course I wanted this to be fun as well. The last few weeks I have been into doing video blogs. I thought maybe I can work something like that into my project. With the wheels turning I knew I was heading in the right direction. After talking to my teacher Mr. Weaver he gave me a great idea and now I’m running with it.
For my capstone project I am bringing back the Hounds Round Up. What this will be is a weekly video blog about the New Wilmington Football team. This project will not only be fun but will also show off many of the skills I have. Every Friday home game I will be the one shooting the highlights, conducting player coaching interviews. The same night I will edit the raw tape and write scripts for a 2 to 4 minute show. Previewing next’s weeks’s game and also offer insight to the game themselves. It is my goal to have these video blogs up and running no later then Saturday at noon. I am also making it my goal to have a link put on the New Castle News web site. With the first half of capstone coming to an end I am extremely excited for the fall semester to get started on the Hounds Round Up.
Anyways back to capstone. Basically we are asked to take all the skills that we have learned in the four years we have been here and apply them to a project that will in the end help us land a job. On this journey we have to pass a few hurdles too. For this semester we were given a test in video production. We were asked to shoot a news story or any kind of video demonstrating our skills to make professional videos. I was extremely nervous about this because everything in capstone is pass/fail and it’s a real scary thought. My partner and I for the Amazing Race decided to use our audition tape for our video skills test. The good news is we ended up passing and took anther step to finishing capstone.
The next step was to come up with an idea for our project. Most people seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do. Well for me, I was completely lost. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do or for that matter where to really start. I knew I wanted to do something that I would love and look forward to working on. Of course I wanted this to be fun as well. The last few weeks I have been into doing video blogs. I thought maybe I can work something like that into my project. With the wheels turning I knew I was heading in the right direction. After talking to my teacher Mr. Weaver he gave me a great idea and now I’m running with it.
For my capstone project I am bringing back the Hounds Round Up. What this will be is a weekly video blog about the New Wilmington Football team. This project will not only be fun but will also show off many of the skills I have. Every Friday home game I will be the one shooting the highlights, conducting player coaching interviews. The same night I will edit the raw tape and write scripts for a 2 to 4 minute show. Previewing next’s weeks’s game and also offer insight to the game themselves. It is my goal to have these video blogs up and running no later then Saturday at noon. I am also making it my goal to have a link put on the New Castle News web site. With the first half of capstone coming to an end I am extremely excited for the fall semester to get started on the Hounds Round Up.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Calling Out the Underclassmen!
It’s that time of year. The tress are blooming their green leaves. Flowers are spreading their paddles wide to huge the sun. And seniors are preparing to graduate. They will anchor their last County Line. DJ their last shifts on Titan Radio and take their very last final. It is now a transition period where seniors are moving on and the underclass will have to fill their rolls. With what I have been observing all year, I wonder if these juniors, sophomores, and freshmen are ready. They will be asked to take on new responsibilities, new rolls. Some will even be asked or even forced into leadership rolls as well. I can honestly say I can only count the number of underclassmen on my right hand who I feel are ready to do so. A new weight of responsibility will be pressed on their shoulders. Well, I’m calling out the underclassmen. It is time to step up! It is time to get involved! This is your time now. A new class of freshmen will arrive next year and they will be looking up to you, for help and guidance. The way I see it, you have two choices. You can drift in the shadows and go unnoticed only doing enough to get by to graduate. Or you can take the proactive choice and get involve; be the one asking questions and wanting to learn new jobs and duties. It’s like that old saying. “You can take the path that everyone follows or make your own path and leave a trail for others.” Be the one to make a name for yourself. We have had some very talented and skilled students come through this major. Many of them are graduating this year. But now its time to see what you can do with them gone. So I’m calling out the underclassmen because I want to see you guys work to your full potential. I didn’t see it this year…but I can’t wait to see what you guys can do come the fall.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Penguins Nation:By the Fans for the Fans (week 3)
Hello Pens fans, and welcome to anther addition of Penguins Nation. Here in week 3 David and I take a deeper look in what made the Pens successful in sweeping the Ottawa Senators. It was the first time the Penguins swept a series since 19992. After steam rolling the Senators the Penguins now wait for there next opponent in round two.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Penguins Nation: by the fans for the fans
Hello everyone and welcome to week two of Penguins Nation. In this week David and I will gear up for Playoff hockey. With so many question heading into the playoffs for the Penguins we will tackle the hard ones. Today will we look at who is on the hot seat, the player most key for the Penguins, and how important home ice advantage is? We hope you enjoy the show.
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