Become a Star with a Broadcasting Degree

by Genevieve M. Blaber

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If you're looking to get into the broadcast industry, the furthest thing from your mind is going to be dusty lectures with professors who haven't seen a working studio in decades. And it's certainly not what employers are looking for when they check out your resume. In an industry where there's little time for on-the-job training, it's important to show that you're arriving with more than textbook-knowledge. You'll need the skills and practical know-how to create a demo reel that catches eyes and shows you know your way around the studio. That's why when choosing where to get your

broadcasting degree

, it's important to find the school that meets the demands of the industry.

"The worst thing you can do is go to a school where people are telling war stories," warns Marty Herstein, the director of the Westbury campus of Connecticut School of Broadcasting. When heading into such a competitive industry, you need more than just a broadcasting degree, you'll need the contacts and up-to-date lessons that only those currently in the industry can offer; that's what CSB looks for in instructors, and that's what you should look for when deciding where to attend.

Although, contacts are always a great help for getting into the industry, your best bet is the demo reel says Herstein. "There are plenty of jobs in the industry where you don't need a demo reel but if you want to be a player you need one." So what goes into a demo reel? The best of the best. In a span of one to four minutes you have to show a prospective employer what sets you apart from the rest of the hopeful hires. By choosing a school that gets you into a working studio early and often, you'll have plenty of time to create the perfect demo reel. That's why schools like CSB are perfect for getting traditional students -- as well as adult learners -- into the broadcast industry.

But Herstein wants all potential students to understand that a decrease in traditional academia doesn't correlate with a decrease in commitment or quality. Though programs -- such as CSB's eight- and 16-week terms -- may be significantly shorter than broadcasting degree programs at colleges, they're still highly intensive and require plenty of extra time in working studios in order to practice your skills. "The people that succeed in this industry are the ones that give 150 percent," says Herstein.

And the more you know the better. Why limit yourself to one part or aspect of the broadcast industry (such as radio or editing) when you can make yourself a broadcast renaissance man or woman? With the U.S. Department of Labor noting that consolidation of the broadcast industry is on the rise, the more that you know and can do will help make you a viable asset at any station.