Credit: Joanna Vissichelli
Are you interested in media production? Do you have a burning passion for broadcasting? Are you considering marketing? A visit to a radio station is a good place to get started.
A group of SUNY Old Westbury students took a trip to the Cox Media Group (CGM) on April 5th, touring their Long Island-based studio, meeting with different departments, and learning about job and internship opportunities. They even got a shout out on the air!
Cox Media Group is one of the nation’s leading names in television and radio. With 14 TV stations and 45 radio stations, CGM’s influence on news, entertainment, and media brings together audiences. SUNY OW students will probably be most familiar with their Long Island-based studio, home to classic rock radio station 102.3 WBAB and Long Island’s Number One Hits 106.1 BLI.
Michael Leavy, Integrated Sales Manager at WBAB and WBLI shared his experiences in marketing. Leavy stressed the importance of research when building relationships with potential clients. Knowing their strengths, the average number of customers, employees, and locations matters when developing client relationships. “You’re more likely to work with someone and become their friend just by educating them,” Leavy said. It shows them your interest in their business and helps build your network.
Andrew ‘Syke’ Sykora, host of the 106.1 morning show, talked about his passion for radio and music. When he submitted his demo reel of his previous broadcasting work to 106.1 BLI, “I knew it was what I had to do because I was passionate about it,” Syke quit a full-time job with benefits at UPS for a part-time position on the air. Syke worked for a year in many departments at BLI to get his foot in the door. He made connections wherever he could and then applied for a full-time on-air slot which eventually led him to the morning show.
BLI producer Tory Christopher spoke about the importance of internships and building connections. “It’s a great way to test the waters without necessarily doing it,” Tory said. You can start an internship in radio, and even if you decide radio just isn’t for you, you still gain real experience and build those connections, which can help you when applying for work elsewhere or when applying for internships. Tory’s major takeaway is being true to yourself and open to multiple avenues, even those you might not specialize in, because they may lead to a career you enjoy.
