The GAB Radio Talent Institute returns to the campus of the University of Georgia today. College students have been accepted into the Institute from UGA, as well as other schools in the state, including: Piedmont College, Georgia Southern University, Clayton State University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia College and State University, Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University. Cox Media Group’s Executive Vice President and CMG Research, Bill Hendrich, does the opening session (“Now is the Time to Start Thinking like a Pro”). He will be preceded by opening comments from Bob Houghton, President of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and Dean Charles Davis of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at UGA.
Houghton commented, “We need this for radio, we need it for broadcasting…I knew we needed it, but even then
didn’t realize how special it is until going through the experience of the Institute. Broadcasters from all over the state come and give their time and expertise. These students will be the leaders in our business 10, 20, 30 years from now; we have a great deal of pride in what we are accomplishing.”
Students will be immersed in all things radio for the next 10 days, with 40 broadcasters leading the sessions, including on-air, programming, news, sports, digital/social media, production, promotions and sales, with each student becoming certified as a Radio Marketing Professional by the RAB.
Dean Davis commented, “The GAB Radio Talent Institute is a great asset, a great event introducing students to broadcasting careers. It is a wonderful addition to our offerings.”
On Wednesday, the students have sessions with the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Braves, and on Friday, they are the live studio audience as CBS Radio’s Ryan Cameron Morning Show w/Wanda Smith on V103 (WVEE) broadcast live from the Institute.
The GAB Radio Talent Institute is the first of five radio talent institutes this summer from the National Radio Talent System, followed by the Kellar Radio Talent Institute at Appalachian State University in North Carolina; the inaugural Hubbard Radio Talent Institute at Central Washington University; the Confer Radio Talent Institute at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and the KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute at Western Kentucky University.
The Institute builds upon the already quality education the students are receiving at the university. The mission is to create a radio talent farm system…a talent incubator…on campuses in every state or region across the country.
To date, 65-70% of the students completing an Institute begin their career in radio or a related field and have gone on to work for CBS, iHeartMedia, Alpha Media, Beasley Media Group, Entercom, Cumulus, Commonwealth Communications, Greater Media, Curtis Media, Forever Communications, CNN, as well as others
“This is a dynamic industry”, stated Dan Vallie, President and Founder of the National Radio Talent System. “Take note of the many broadcasters in Georgia whose support makes the GAB Radio Talent Institute possible, and they know how important it is. It shows how much people in our industry love what we do, take pride in being in broadcasting and, more importantly, will do what it takes to insure we have bright young talent in the industry today and that we thrive on into the 21st century.”
This innovative concept has the broadcast profession, the universities, and the National Radio Talent System working together to discover, teach and develop the brightest of the brightest students to bring fresh talent into the industry today in order to prepare the next generation of broadcast leaders for tomorrow. It’s the first program of its kind in the world, and broadcasters agree it is long overdue.
Individual broadcasters, groups or organizations who would like to join the National Radio Talent System in establishing and sponsoring a Radio Talent Institute on a campus in their state and region should contact DanVallie@NationalRadioTalentSystem.com or call 828-262-1502 or go to www.NationalRadioTalentSystem.com
