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Helping students and young professionals obtain additional training and insight into the electronic media industry was the goal of the first-ever electronic media workshop, which took place on the University of Northern Iowa campus in October. University of Northern Iowa alumni working in the electronic media industry developed and presented “Fast Forward: Media Skills for a Changing Marketplace,” a daylong event, which also included a panel discussion by area news directors. 
“This was the first conference of its kind in the state,” said John Fritch, UNI associate professor and head of Communication Studies. “It was successful beyond our greatest expectations. News directors, young professionals and our students all praised the conference. When a student asked one of the news directors how to gain an edge on their competition for jobs, he said ’Attend conferences like this one.’ “ Julie Kraft (BA ’86), senior consultant at Frank N. Magid Associates in Marion, got the ball rolling on the event concept. “Diane Curtis (UNI’s director of Planned Giving) and I were having lunch, and I said in passing, ’There are some of us out there who are successful and who would love to give back to UNI through their expertise.’ I told Diane we should have three or four come back on their own dime and their own time and share that expertise,” Kraft said. Along with Kraft, alumni participants included: Mark Anderson (BA ’85), a photojournalist and two-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner; Polly Carver-Kimm (BA ’85), news director and co-host of the KIOA morning show in Des Moines; Teresa Nolt (BA ’99), talent placement specialist at Magid Associates; and Mark Steines (BA ’86), two-time Emmy winning journalist and co-host of “Entertainment Tonight,” who gave the keynote address. “There are not a lot of training opportunities available to young professionals. This conference was designed to fill that void,” Kraft said. “I think it’s a great experience for an alum to go back and for students to see what they can look forward to. We’re trying to inspire them and let them know ’you can do this, you can make it.’ “ Workshops included writing and storytelling, preparing new graduates for their first job, best practices in broadcast journalism, and polishing broadcasting skills. The conference was co-sponsored and funded by the Iowa Broadcasters Association and Quarton-McElroy/IBA Endowment Fund. |
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