6th Annual KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute Begins Monday

RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, July 22, 2018

Kentucky Broadcasters Association WKU

Kentucky Broadcasters Association President/CEO Chris Winkle, and Partner in WCYN Broadcasting/Cynthiana, KY, welcomes students to the 6th annual KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute at Western Kentucky University starting Monday, July 23. Throughout the week, almost 40 broadcasters will follow Winkle, including a live broadcast from Ben Davis and Kelly K at WDJX/Louisville with the students as the live studio audience.

Also appearing is Executive VP Strategic Planning and Special Projects Steve Newberry from the NAB in Washington, and broadcasters from Commonwealth Broadcasting, Forever Communications, CapCity Communications, Forcht Broadcasting, The Cromwell Group, Cumulus Media and iHeartMedia.

Students arriving on campus had to apply to be accepted into the Institute, which includes sessions in on-air, sports, news, promotions, digital, production and all things radio, including being certified by the RAB as Radio Marketing Professionals. There are no breakout sessions, and the students are in all sessions.

"We can't stand on the sidelines wondering where the next generation of broadcasters will come from. We have to be proactive and intentional in our efforts to assist students on their journey into broadcasting, culminating with job placement,", said Winkle, who returns for closing comments ten days later, and is joined by David Brinkley, Director of Educational Communications at WKU and Chairman Elect of the KBA, to send the students off and better prepared for the career in radio they pursue.

National Radio Talent System Founder and President Dan Vallie stated, "It is great to have the solid support of the KBA, who are such early believers in and supporters of the Talent System, now for 6 years; and WKU, who embraced this from the moment it was introduced to the university. Working together - broadcasters, universities and the National Radio Talent System, we are building the talent farm for the industry and discovering and preparing the next generation of broadcasters."

To date, the majority of students completing an Institute begin their career in radio or a related field, and have gone on to work for Forever Communications, CapCity Communications, Commonwealth Broadcasting, Alpha Media, Hubbard Radio, Beasley Media Group, Entercom, iHeartMedia, Cumulus, CNN and the NBA, among others.