MBA Brings Radio Talent Institute to Missouri

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, December 5, 2016

MBA has teamed up with six radio broadcast companies to bring the Radio Talent Institute to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville from July 31 through August 9. The Institute is a ten day radio immersion program meant to bring broadcasting students together with over 30 broadcast pros for on-air training in music radio, news and sports as well as digital/social media, production, promotion, sales and more. Students will become certified Radio Marketing Professionals by the Radio Advertising Bureau.

The Institute, a talent incubator and farm system for broadcasters, is open to all broadcasting students throughout the Midwest. The goal is to bring the best of the best into the radio industry and prepare them to be the next generation of broadcast leaders. Missouri will be one of only six states in the country that host an institute with the National Radio Talent System. To date, 65 to 70 percent of the students completing an Institute begin their career in radio or a related field.

Missouri Broadcasters Association President Mark Gordon stated, "We are pleased to bring in a program taught by industry professionals that will help fill job openings at broadcast stations with quality employees who have a true understanding of how fun and rewarding a career in our industry can be. This would not have been possible without financial commitments from Northwest Missouri State University, the Missouri Broadcasters Board of Directors and the following broadcast companies: Hubbard Radio/St Louis, Eagle Communications/St. Joseph, Emmis/St. Louis, Midwest Family/Springfield, Zimmer Radio/Columbia and Jefferson City and iHeartRadio/St. Louis, Springfield, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport."

Northwest President, Dr. John Jasinski added, "Northwest Missouri State University is proud to enhance our profession-based learning by partnering with this nationally-recognized program and talented professionals. We thank the Missouri Broadcasters Association, National Radio Talent System and the various broadcast companies that support this endeavor focused on talent development."

Founder and President of the National Radio Talent System Dan Vallie commented, "The passion and commitment from Mark and the MBA, and the broadcasters partnering with us to make this happen, is a shining example of their passion for and love of the industry. We need technology, but it's always people who make the difference. The young broadcasters we discover and nurture in the MBA Radio Talent Institute are talent we can hire today and who make the difference in the future."