There is a new club is on campus, and it is here to provide broadcast students with the chance to learn how to network and succeed in the world of the broadcast business.
Junior Megan Rupe, president of Radio and Television Digital News Association, said the club gives students a huge opportunity to get a step ahead in their career.
“Our purpose is to provide students with networking,” Rupe said.
Rupe said you can purchase a $40 membership to join the campus club and participate in the club’s activities. A $75 national organization membership comes with more benefits, including an online profile that links members to directories of potential employers and to scholarships through RTDNA.
“There are a lot of benefits that students get as a part of this organization as well as being recognized nationally that they are a member of RTDNA,” Rupe said.
Faith Sidlow, a broadcast professor here on campus and a local reporter for Channel 24 News, said the campus needs an organization like RTDNA.
“I was lying in bed one day thinking, we have nothing for broadcast students,” Sidlow said.
Sidlow said she got her first job from the RTDNA club at San Diego State University. She went to a conference with her colleagues where she met a reporter from Fresno who offered to introduce her to his news director from Channel 24.
Sidlow talked about the importance of persistence in this industry. She continuously called the news director and the reporter until they finally hired her as a newsroom assistant with the promise that when the first reporter position opened, she would get it.
Twenty-seven years later, Sidlow is now the anchor for KSEE Sunrise, the morning news segment for Channel 24.
Sidlow said 41 universities have an RTDNA program on campus and they are all excellent journalism schools. “I just thought we had to do it,” Sidlow said. “I just told a couple of people and everybody ran with it.”
Jobin Panicker said he became a national member of RTDNA to submit his stories for the chance to win an Emmy Award. He submitted four of his stories, was nominated for three, and won an Emmy for one.
With networking opportunities being so crucial to an individual’s career path, Panicker, a reporter for KSEE 24 News was pleased to hear that a new club was brought to Fresno State’s campus that focuses on networking.
Panicker stressed the importance of networking throughout this club and how crucial it is for your career. “I think sometimes it’s understanding how important networking is in this business, but if you’re in broadcasting networking is very key,” Panicker said. “It’s about knowing the right people.”
Panicker said anything that will connect you with a wider population that is interested in the same thing is an advantageous bonus to have. “This is definitely a rare opportunity for you students,” Panicker said.
The organization that was once known as Radio and Television News Directors Association, RTNDA, adopted its new name, Radio and Television Digital News Association, RTDNA, due to the new digital age.
The RTDNA club has three remaining meetings this semester and will do an additional four in the spring of 2013. Rupe and Sidlow both said they are going to be hosting a writing and resume workshop, studio tours, and hopefully attend conferences as well as having guest speakers visit.