The National Radio Talent System launched the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Western Kentucky University Radio Talent Institute at WKU on 7/22.
The Kentucky Broadcasters Association is sponsoring the Institute with additional sponsorship support from the Cromwell Group, Commonwealth Broadcasting, Forever Communications, Henson Media, Forcht Broadcasting, Withers Communications, Anderson and Associates, and LM Communications.
The Institute begins with opening comments from WKU’s President, Gary Ransdell; Dean David Lee of Potter College, WKU; and Director of Journalism and Broadcasting, WKU, Dr. Loup Langton, along with Rick McCue from the Kentucky Broadcasters Association and WBKO TV.
Former broadcaster, now Assistant Professor at WKU, Dick Taylor will moderate this ten day event. 16 students from the region have been accepted into this year’s Institute. Those students will hear from 36 Radio professionals, including Bud Walters, President/Owner of the Cromwell Group, Nashville; Steve Newberry, President/CEO, Commonwealth Broadcasting, Glasgow; Christine Hillard, President/COO of Forever Communications, Bowling Green; with Ed Henson of Henson Media, Louisville, opening the institute with “Getting in, Becoming an Entrepreneur
RAB sales training modules are used in the sales sessions and led by Derron Steenbergen, Chief Revenue Officer, Commonwealth Broadcasting, Glasgow; Kristin Cantrell, Owner, CapCity Communications, Frankfort; Bill Gentry, Regional Market Manager, Clear Channel, Louisville; Tincy Crouse, Market Manager, Cromwell Radio, Nashville. Each student will take the exam to become certified as a Radio Marketing Professional by the RAB
Said Dan Vallie, Founder and President of the National Radio Talent System: “The people at the KBA, all the broadcasters sponsoring the Institute, and the leadership at WKU, embrace the vision and see this as vitally important, not only in bringing fresh talent into the industry today, but talent that will be industry leaders tomorrow as radio continues to thrive into this 21st century. These students are starting their careers in radio, and we are developing the next generation of broadcasters. The students come with enthusiasm and passion for the business, and it’s very impressive how industry professionals sacrifice their time to come to the campus to teach sessions and give back to the industry.”
The KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute curriculum, in addition to sales, includes on-air, production, programming, promotions, digital and Interactive, with all sessions being taught by radio professionals from the region. Gabe Hobbs of Gabe Hobbs Media, St. Petersburg, FL is leading a session on “On Air, Developing Your Voice, Your Style…You”, while Don Anthony, Publisher of Morning Mouth Magazine and creator of Morning Show Boot Camp and Talk Radio Boot camp, teaches the students on “How to Get a Good Job”.
News and Talk radio sessions are led by Mandy Connell, Talk Show Host, WHAS Clear Channel, Louisville and Joseph Corcoran, Morning Host, reporter and producer for WKU Public Radio, Bowling Green.
It’s an intense ten days and all sessions are held on the WKU campus, except one day when the students travel to LP Field in Nashville to hear from Larry Stone and Mike Keith of the NFL Tennessee Titans, and then to Bridgestone Arena where Stu Grimson and Tom Callahan of the NHL Nashville Predators will teach a session.
A highlight of the Institute is a live broadcast from the WKU campus of the Lambert and Lindsey Morning Show from 102.3 The Max in Louisville, with the students as the live studio audience. The students have the unique opportunity to not only hear the morning show team live, but see them perform in real time.
Gary White, President of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association, will share closing remarks on the tenth and final day of the Institute.
The KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute is the second Radio Talent Institute, which is following the Kellar Radio Talent Institute at Appalachian State University in North Carolina that concluded last week. The Institute will be a continuing signature program each summer at each of the universities. National Radio Talent System expects to announce a third Institute and university in the next few weeks. The mission of National Radio Talent System is to have Radio Talent Institutes on college campuses in every region of the country to discover, coach and train entry level talent for radio and to be the leaders of our industry tomorrow.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn from some of the outstanding leaders in our region. Congratulations to those who were selected this will be an awesome opportunity to learn from some of the best in our business.
Paul Tinkle
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