Matt Toal ’13
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Matt Toal ’13 Please provide your biographical information. I grew up in Media, Pennsylvania. My sister attended West Chester University and graduated in 2010. From visiting her while she was at school, I knew WCU was where I wanted to earn my college degree. My sister was part of WCUR, the campus radio station, and that is something I knew I wanted to get involved in. I was accepted to WCU as a Political Science major, but switched to Communication Studies during my freshman year. What made you go into Communication Studies? I've always had a passion for mass media and news. I knew I wanted to work in television in some capacity. Crafting a message is an important task, and one that needs to be taken seriously. I enjoy making sure that message is communicated effectively, clearly, and accurately. That applies whether I'm writing a news story at work, or making plans with friends. What is your official title and what are your responsibilities in your current position? I am a producer at Fox 29 News in Philadelphia. I build our 5 and 6 o'clock newscasts. I work with our news team to decide what stories we'll cover everyday, and then I put together a newscast. During the show, I'm the person in the anchor's ears, telling them what changes are taking place, or informing them of breaking news. What is a typical day like at work? Television news is incredibly fast passed. Our show goes on the air at 5pm on-the-dot. If I’m falling behind that day, too bad. If there are technical difficulties one minute before the show and I all of the sudden don't have a live shot from my first reporter, too bad. You constantly have to adapt, in real time, to make sure your product looks clean for the viewers. Television news, especially in a market like Philadelphia, is extremely competitive. It's a race to see who gets the big story out first both on air and online. What have been the biggest challenges at work? The way people consume their news is changing. Not everyone makes sure they are home at a certain time to watch the news. It's always a challenge to think of new and innovative ways to bring in viewers. We put a lot of effort into making sure we are covering stories our viewers want to see. We also try to use social media in new ways to not only disperse news, but get people to tune in to our newscast as well. What do you enjoy most about your current position? A lot of people complain that the news is always so negative, but we really do cover a lot of inspiring stories. That's what gets me up every morning. Whether it's the 8-year-old girl who is collecting clothes for the people of Haiti after Hurricane Matthew, or a fire station honoring a young cancer patient with the title of "Firefighter for the Day"- there are so many good people out there. It's an honor to share their stories and maybe inspire others. What skills, talents, and other traits are useful and necessary to do your job? You have to work well under pressure. It's a competitive business with strict deadlines. No one who works in TV news is a procrastinator. They would never make it. I started out at Fox 29 as an intern in 2012 while at WCU. After graduation, Fox hired me as a part time production assistant. It's not a glamorous job. You're low on the totem pole and working overnights on the weekends. I was then promoted to an Assignment Editor... then an Associate Producer... before becoming a Producer. I've worked in so many different parts of the newsroom now, it's made me so much better at my job. That's what I always encourage our interns to do- learn how every part of this operation works. You'll have a better understanding and appreciation for the people you work with, and you'll know what it really takes to get a live television show on air. You recently got engaged during Homecoming Weekend 2016. Can you tell us more about the proposal and your fiancé? Leah and I met at WCU in Fall of 2009 but did not start dating until Spring of 2013. I told my (then) girlfriend Leah we had to head to campus early to help my friend, fellow WCU alumnus Justin Sochovka, set up some things for the parade. I told her we had to meet him at the castle building. When we arrived, Justin said "I need a quick picture to share on the alumni page, let me get a picture of you two at the whispering arch." As I counted down from three, I proposed into the arch. At the same time, dozens of our close family and friends came down the tunnel and were there to share in the special moment. Leah and I were then in the homecoming parade, where the hosts of the parade announced our engagement to everyone lining Rosedale Ave. It was an amazing weekend. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My fiancée, Leah, and I enjoy spending our weekends at my family's vacation home in Bethany Beach, Delaware. We also look forward to coming back to campus several times a year. I am a Friar and Leah is an Abbe, so it's always a thrill to come back and reunite with our friends. We try to come back for Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, and the Hanging of the Greens every year. Where do you see yourself in five years? I would like to play more of a leadership role in a newsroom. My fiancée and I plan on moving back to West Chester soon. So in five years I'd hope to have a family there! What advice would you give to a current student who aspires to follow in your footsteps and pursue a similar career path? TV news is not a glamorous business. It's fast paced, stressful, and it's about journalism over celebrity. Not one person I work with who is on air is in their position because they wanted to be famous. They do it because they want to share stories. We just happen to do it on television. I tell anyone who wants to work in television to intern in college. It will give you more experience than you'll ever imagine, and it's also a great foot in the door. I'm a perfect example of that. How has your WCU education contributed to your success? My professors, advisors, and classmates from WCU all played an important role in my success. I've applied things I've learned in the classroom directly to me career. Whether it be my news writing class, mass media class, or even non-verbal communication- all provided me with skills I use everyday. My peers in WCUR and WCU Weekly also need recognition. Looking back, some of the most exciting times at WCU was when I was sitting with other members of WCUR or WCU Weekly and brainstorming about how we could make those student groups better. We didn't want people to think of us as "just a college radio station" or "just a college news show." We wanted people to take us seriously, so we did everything we could to make sure we sounded like real broadcasters. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments (both personally and professionally)? If you want to work in TV, you'll be told a million times that it’s a tough and long road to work your way up the ladder. Although it is very tough and I've worked very hard, I am very proud to hold a Producer position at a television station in the country's fourth largest television market. Not many people who graduated from college just over three years ago can say that. If you hard work, admit to your mistakes, and promise to learn from them, you'll succeed. .