MEDIA ESSENTIALS
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Career Day 2021 featured five panels outlined below. Panelists discussed their fields, an average day (if there is one!), what skills are required and who stands out to employers. Continuing the longstanding tradition of connecting students to experienced professionals, students were able to direct questions to panelists during the virtual Career Day event. The recording can be requested by faculty from member schools.
A special thank you to our panelists who volunteered their time to participate in this worthwhile event!
TV News & Sports
Farah Nasser, Anchor, Global News at 5:30 & 6pm
Caroline Cameron, Host, Sportsnet
From the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Hockey Night in Canada, to hosting our national Olympic coverage or history at Wimbledon, Caroline has been fortunate to cover and share some of the country’s biggest sports moments with Canadians.
Eamon Zekkou, Broadcast Operations Supervisor, Station Lead, Global Toronto
At Global for over 40 years, Eamon loves every minute! Work at Global has him involved with the technical side of all production including virtual, robotic cameras, lighting & automated control rooms. They do approximately 120 hours of News content every week. Global sent him to six Super Bowls where he was part of their first foray into virtual production. He also owns a company, where he has directed shows at CBC, CTV, BBC, TSN, and Sportsnet as well as the teaching & consulting. He directed the video portion of two feature films…Man of the Year with Robin Williams and The Last Debate with James Garner.
Katherine Aylesworth, Producer, Global National
Production & Creative
Staxx, Creative Services Director, Z100, NYC
Staxx writes, develops, and directs the branding for Z100’s on-air image. Additionally, is the voice over for sister station 1035 KTU, iHeart Radio Podcast Awards, and help works on a variety of iHeartRadio brands across the country and on the app.
Justin Dove, Owner, Core Image Studios Inc.
Justin creates branding for sport radio networks dealing with MLB / NHL / NBA / NFL
Ron Tarrant, Voice-Over, Producer, Sound Designer, Writer
Ron is Director of Red Hits & Entercom’s “The Hub” Imaging; Writer, producer, composer & voice of Roger’s Media’s Rock stations across Canada & The Howard Stern Show.
Kelly Robotham, Audio Producer, MZ Media
Kelly works in the Radio Production Department for MZ Media, producing & creating commercials, promos, ID’s, and various programs for (primarily) AM740 Zoomer Radio & The New Classical FM 96.3FM/102.9FM/103.1FM. She also does freelance podcast editing.
News: Radio & Digital
Wendy Gray, Director Of News Vista Radio Ltd., General Manager, CHGK/CJCS
Jeff Storey, Regional PD, News Talk Radio, Corus Entertainment Inc.
Mathew Reisler, News Reporter/Anchor , Vista Radio
Sales, Promotions & Marketing
David McTeague, Promotions Manager, JAZZ-FM
With 16-years of experience within the role, David has a strong reputation as a person who gets things done. Always connecting the dots, he has a passion for helping Canadian artists succeed, as well as his clients.
Alysia Taylor, Digital Advertising & Sales, Barrie 360 | Rock 95 | 107.5 KoolFM
On-Air & Programming
Paul Thomas, Program Director & Assistant General Manager, The New Classical FM & Zoomer Radio
Troy McCallum, Programus Directagus (that’s my Latin title), Boom 97.3
Program Director, Assistant Music Director, Assistant P.D to myself, Content Creator, Writer, Social Media Manager, Producer, Mentor… Where does it end, really? As the face of media continually changes, so do job descriptions and duties = more hats to wear. The more we know and are capable of doing the more desirable the employee is.
Paul Ferguson, Program Director, Music Director and on Air Host, Cool 100.1 & 95.5 Hits FM
Paul is the Program and Music Director for Starboard Communications in Belleville, ON, that operates Cool 100, and 95-5 Hits-FM. He is also the PM Drive announcer on Cool 100, and a 6-time winner of the Canadian Country Music Association’s, “Music Director of the Year – Medium or Small Market”. Paul also serves on the CCMA Board of Directors, is Vice-Chair of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, and is Chair of the Loyalist College Radio Broadcast Advisory Board. A married father of two, Paul takes great pride in a very well-shaven head…
Sarah Carmichael, Morning Show Co-Host, Mix 106.5 & Midday Announcer on Max 97.7
Sarah’s also the Music Director for AM 560 CFOS. She keeps busy and co-hosts the morning show on Mix 106.5 Monday to Friday from 6am-10am, then has a show on Max 97.7 Monday to Friday 11am-3pm. In addition she schedules all the music for AM560 CFOS. Hosting a Morning Show in the same city that she grew up in (Owen Sound) is a pretty neat feeling!
Career Day sponsors have enabled the OAB to continue hold this event each year at no cost to individual students. Thank you to each of our sponsors: Evanov Radio Group, Corus Entertainment, Loyalist College, Central Ontario Broadcasting, Quinte Broadcasting, Starboard Communications, Media Job Search Canada, MZ Media, Torres Media.
The Ontario Association of Broadcasters’ Education Liaison Committee is: Gina Lorentz (Chair), Jody Brooker, Doug Caldwell, Wendy Gray, Ward Smith and Paul Thomas.
2020 Photos, courtesy of Seneca Media, here.
more about Career Day
Career Day is open to students currently enrolled in broadcasting or broadcasting related programs at post secondary schools in Ontario. Registration is free, but on a first-come first-serve basis. Space is limited. Student registrations will only be accepted via email from Educators.
Students will have a chance to ask questions and network with experts all afternoon at the roundtable discussions, which continue to be the most dynamic part of Career Day. This event provides a one of a kind opportunity for soon-to-be-graduating students to speak candidly with experienced broadcasters. Broadcasters provide students first hand information on all aspects of the business in today’s marketplace. Many of our broadcasters, who volunteer their time have found this day to be fulfilling and informative. It provides them with students’ perspective on our ever-changing industry.
The Ontario Association of Broadcasters invites educators from all Ontario broadcasting schools to submit their nominations for the Michael Monty Scholarship Award. Nominees will be judged on strong academic marks and on their efforts to make a difference by getting involved in extracurricular activities, like volunteering with student groups or organizations (i.e. campus radio or television stations, student unions, sports teams, local charities). Nominations can be submitted online at https://oab.ca/events/career-day/oab-michael-monty-scholarship/. The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 21st, 2020.
To register students, for sponsorship opportunities or to participate as a host at our next Career Day, contact Val Skivington at memberservices@oab.ca.
OAB Education Liaison Committee is ~
- Gina Lorentz, Committee Chair & Professor, Broadcast Journalism, Fanshawe College
- Jody Brooker, Sales Manager, Quinte Broadcasting
- Doug Caldwell, President, Bayshore Broadcasting
- Wendy Gray, Regional Cluster Manager, Ontario South & Director of News, Vista Radio Ltd
- Ward Smith, Senior Vice President, Global News
- Paul Thomas, Program Director & Music Director, The New Classical FM
how to take part
Career Day is open to students currently enrolled in broadcasting or broadcasting related programs at post secondary schools in Ontario. Registration is free, but on a first-come first-serve basis. Student registrations will only be accepted via email from Educators. To register students, sponsorship opportunities or to participate as a host at our next Career Day, contact Val Skivington at the OAB, 905.554.2730 or memberservices [at] oab [dot] ca. Students interested in attending Career Day should contact their professors. Professors and coordinators are asked to email a list of students who would like to attend to memberservices [at] oab [dot] ca. Space is limited and only confirmed names received via email will be allowed entry.
about career day
In 2006, the Ontario Association of Broadcasters created an event designed to give back to broadcasting students from all over Ontario, and over the years this has become the must-attend event of the year for students. Each year Ontario College and University broadcast students are invited to meet industry representatives from Radio and Television. Broadcasters volunteer their time to speak candidly with soon-to-be graduating students about the industry and their field of expertise. Many return year after year to assist in this worthwhile event. At Career Day each year the OAB also presents the Michael Monty Scholarship Award to a lucky student, who’s not only strong academically but also gives back to their school and community by volunteering. The continued success of this event is due to the many broadcasters and educators who volunteer their time to participate, without whom, this event would simply not be possible. Thank you to everyone who has assisted us each year.
