WU After Hours Tour

FCC commissioner and ESPN assignment editor visit WU

Feb. 27 through Mar. 1 was Mass Com week here at Winthrop. Every day a different professional in the industry came to the school and spoke on about their experiences and networked with multiple eager students. I was sick this past week but I did make it to two of the events. I was able to hear a little of FCC commissioner, Mignon Clyburn speak on Monday and on Thursday I got to eat lunch with ESPN assignment editor, Nicole Coffey!  When I heard Clyburn speak  I thought it was very good considering she lost her voice before coming to the event.  She talked about the increasing use of mobile devices in America and how there is such a high demand for broadband access that there may not be enough to go around. This was interesting to me, I never really considered broadband access as something that could limited. She also talked about how there are millions of people in this country that do not have broadband in  a lot of rural communities and how she is working with the FCC to promote broadband in more rural communities. I really liked the event but I wished that commissioner Clyburn would have had more time to talk about herself and her career. I would have loved to hear any tips or interesting stories from her past. 

 On Thursday Nicole Coffey  was here early that morning talking to students and giving advice while I was working. I have to say that I took my time doing the recycling just so I could here some of the advice she was giving students.  I was lucky enough to be in the right time at the place because earlier in the week there was a Post it war, where different groups had to make pictures out  Post-It notes.

Lucky for me the department put on luncheon for the participants and because I was working I had to help set up and because Ms. Jamie is the nicest boss ever I got enjoy the festivities with everyone else including Nicole Coffey! She was very nice. I told her that while I do not know anything about sports that I love to write and I’m very good with research.  I talked to her about how when I came to Winthrop I was convinced that I wanted to in front of a camera on tv or behind a mike on the radio, that I had dreamt of it since I was 6. Of course after hearing that my voice was too soft, that I sounded like a 4-year-old, that producers wouldn’t know where to put me in the lineup,  that I was too smart to be on air, and plenty of other discouraging comments from radio professionals. I realized that I liked being behind the camera, directing, instructing, or writing and controlling the equipment in a radio station much better than speaking on camera.

She told me that it was goo d that I realized that early on in college and that as long as I can write I could always find a job. I  really enjoyed talking to her. I thought that it was really cool that she went to Winthrop. She told me how she stayed in Phelps her first two years and then moved off campus and other little interesting things about Winthrop. I thought it was a great opportunity to meet her and actually have a conversation with her.  I hate that I did not get to attend all the events for mass com week , my allergies picked the worst time to act up. But the events I was able to attend were really great and I cant wait for next year’s Mass Com week! 

Cover It Live: Matilda