GAB Radio Talent Institute at UGA Starts Monday

RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, May 7, 2017

Students at the GAB Radio Talent Institute

The 4th annual GAB Radio Talent Institute returns to the campus of the University of Georgia on Monday. Cumulus VP/Programing John Dimick will begin the ten day institute with the opening session and will be followed over the ten days by 40 broadcasters teaching all sessions. These broadcasters are coming from Cox Media Group, iHeartMedia, CBS Radio, Beasley, Radio One, Entercom, Alpha Media and others as well as the Atlanta Hawks, and the Atlanta Braves marketing and broadcasting departments.

College students have been accepted into the Institute from UGA, as well as from eight other schools in the state and region and will be immersed in all things radio including on-air, programming, news, sports, digital/social media, production, engineering, promotions and sales, with each student becoming certified as a Radio Marketing Professional by the RAB. The Institute will conclude with Cox Media Group Executive VP Bill Hendrich doing the session "Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro."

All sessions take place on the UGA campus except for one day with the broadcasting and marketing departments of the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Braves. The students are back on campus the next day as the live studio audience for the Urban WVEE-FM (V103) Atlanta morning show, "The Ryan Cameron Show with Wanda Smith."

GAB President Bob Houghton commented, "I knew we needed this, but even then didn't realize how special it is until going through the experience of the Institute. Broadcasters from all over the state come and give their time and expertise. These students will be the leaders in our business 10, 20, 30 years from now; we have a great deal of pride in what we are accomplishing."

Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Dean Charles Davis added, "The GAB Radio Talent Institute is a great asset, a great event introducing students to broadcasting careers. It is a wonderful addition to our offerings."

To date, the students completing an Institute have begun their career in radio or a related field and have gone on to work for CBS Radio, iHeartMedia, Alpha Media, Beasley Media Group, Entercom, Cumulus, Commonwealth Communications, Greater Media, Curtis Media, Forever Communications, CNN, IMG College Radio Network, and others.

"This is a dynamic industry," stated National Radio Talent System President and Founder Dan Vallie. "It shows how much people in our industry love what we do, take pride in being in broadcasting and, more importantly, will do what it takes to ensure we have bright young talent in the industry today and that we thrive on into the 21st century. We are building the talent farm the industry has always needed, now more than ever."