Introduction to the Media

Hello! 

My name is Kelsey Kroger,  I am a senior at the University of South Dakota.  I'm majoring in Contemporary Media & Journalism with an emphasis in broadcast journalism and plan to graduate December 2014.  I am also an active member of Alpha Xi Delta.  

My experience in the media world started back in 2011, when I made the decision to try out writing for the school newspaper, The Volante.  I took the role as a sports reporter because my friend was an editor for the newspaper and said I should just try it out for fun.  I ended up falling in love with writing.  I had help from a Journalism Professor, Chuck Baldwin, who talked to me about the newspaper and the Media Department in general.  My hometown is Madison, Wis. so with that being said, USD's football team traveled to UW-Wisconsin Madison where they faced the Badgers.  I had the drive and passion to take the story, I got to interview Head Coach Ed Meierkort, various players and got to write the feature story.  My friend who got me into the newspaper and I also made a video to go along with the story.  Well a producer from the Big Ten Network contacted me asking permission to use it in his show, "Big Ten Pulse."  I believe this is where I felt I was reached out to, and made me feel welcome and that I was doing the right thing.  

The type of guidance and collaboration I respond to best is when I get constructive criticism and feedback on my work.  I strive to make myself better in everything I do, I love getting comments back on my work: writing, editing, radio announcing, etc.  

I truly believe there is so much I learn on a daily basis that will be transferable from the classroom to my first job.  Taking multiple writing classes in all areas will definitely be a great experience to have.  From Broadcast News Writing, Writing for Digital Media, Public Relations Writing, etc. will all be helpful no matter which field I go into.  From class to the real world I think it is so important to know an array of works instead of just simply what field you are working in.  Social Media is a broad arrangement of things and I think knowing how to use multiple forms of them definitely benefit whatever job field you go into.  Social Media has become such a phenomenon and popular form of communication that all demographics are using them every day.  

Experiences I plan on engaging in while here at the University is to just get as much knowledge about the media world as possible and networking.  I honestly believe it is more about who you know than what you know.  I mean, knowing how to do things for your job is key, but knowing the right people is definitely a positive.  This year alone, I wanted to get involved in broadcast, so I auditioned to be on Coyote News.  Unfortunately, I did not get asked to be a member of the cast, but I did get a job as a News Anchor for the school radio station, Coyote Radio KAOR 91.1. My goals this semester is to definitely get my timing down, learning how to emphasize on certain words and to read more as I am having a conversation with someone rather than just reading off of a piece of paper.  I am going to strive to accomplish these goals this semester.  I also took a segment of sports updates for the radio on Fridays.  I think by adding this to my radio experience I will learn more about the radio, pace, timing and how to read in a conversational tone.  

That's all for now. 

Kelsey Kroger