The University of Findlay

The University of Findlay's communication program offers training that is as personal and unique as each student who studies here. Read on to find out what a handful of them have found through their study.

Jonathon Limber, Clear Channel Radio, Lima, Ohio



Jon Limber was showing off
a little in this photo, which
is on WLFC's myspace page.
Jon had a great internship at
Clear Channel Radio and is
now employed by them.
The final days of my internship were the happiest and the saddest days I’ve experienced, during my internship. I was sad because I was leaving, I had spent so much time there, and I had made great friends, and I didn’t want it to end so quickly. I knew it was coming, but I still wasn’t ready for it to end. I was happy, because then I found out that I wasn’t leaving. I found out that they had decided to hire me part time, because they needed an emergency fill in, and they thought it would be beneficial to me, because if I got hired in there, I could be transferred anywhere else I wanted to in the process.
    During these last few days, I did more voice work for WiLD 939, and they got me ready for on air time, because they want to get me in their regular rotation of DJs (which I may add is coming soon!). The timing of this couldn’t have been better, just because I came in right when they needed someone, and I was already there, and they were very impressed with my work ethic and devotion to radio, that they didn’t want to let me go that easily. So, meeting dates have been sent, and I’m in the process of filing paper work, so that I can be regularly employed.
    As a small side note, hopefully The University of Findlay isn’t planning on removing the internship from the communication curriculum, and if they are, please tell them I said, “Do not take it away! It’s the best thing that could have ever happened to me!” My internship was so helpful, because it helped me realize that my education here really helped me in the ‘real world’ and that I’m ready to tackle corporate radio.

Vick Travagliante, WTAM-AM, Cleveland, Ohio



Vick Travagliante, left, works with
Sam Foutz during a live broadcast
from the AMU during PRSSA's
annual Deck the Trees event.
At Findlay we use a system called Adobe Audition, which is also a system that is used at most radio stations across the nation. At WTAM I spent a lot of time on the Adobe.
    This was great because the tutoring I received at WTAM will help me with my ability to pump out some great new commercials for WLFC, and help others as well. The way they helped me out is that they had me cutting interview clips from work they did that day--and then they'd use those clips on the "Sportsline" radio show (which is heard in 38 states and half of Canada).
    The best part of working at WTAM was seeing how Kevin Keane, the Sportsline host, and Andre Knott, the Browns beat reporter (who really took me under his wing), interacted with the players.
    Kevin invited me to a Cleveland Indians game and showed me how he watches the game from a reporter’s reporter's perspective rather than a fan's. While at the Tribe game I got to meet some of the players and enter a place that some never have a chance to.
    Andre, on the other hand, would take me to Browns camp all the time and he would watch the players the way a fan would. However, when it was time to interview them he flipped the switch.
    My passion is sports broadcasting, not becoming a sports talk show host. My time at WTAM helped me clarify this.
    Working in major market radio was great. It was an honor to be part of the team at WTAM and to be given an opportunity to work there.

Elise DeCola, WTVG-TV, Toledo, Ohio

    One day in the morning meeting, it was discussed that someone needed to court that day to wait for the results of two cases. I volunteered.
    It was quite an interesting day. I sat in on the sentencing of a man accused of murder and I also sat in on the verdict reading for another local murder case. These cases were spread out throughout the day with the verdict being read in the morning and the sentencing in the afternoon. Before that day, I had never been in a courtroom with a prisoner before, so it was a little scary, but I was happy for the experience.
    After that I started to serve as assistant producer. This was great experience for me, but the producers were shuffled around and I ended up working with a new producer. Before long I found myself quite at home doing this work.
    I had stories to write each day and the producer also pick out my own sound bites for stories and showed me how to use the video source program on the computer.
    The producer made me popular person at the station. She told her boss about my skills as an assistant producer, which eventually got me a meeting with the associate director of the station who promised me a good reference and even a good job after I graduated from school.