Payton Conway

Payton Conway FINA 250 Project Part I FINA 250-01 September 19, 2014

It is the summer of 2018 and I have just graduated from Longwood University with a BA in Communication Studies with a concentration in Mass Media and a minor in Business

Administration. My GPA is 3.75 and I graduated Summa Cum Laude.

The skills that I have learned throughout my time at Longwood would be: radio and television broadcasting and equipment knowledge, being able to work under pressure with deadlines, customer service skills, public speaking, and a variety of communications skills. I have three and a half years of experience as a disc jockey (DJ) at the WMLU radio station.

There I learned how to present music, news, and advertisements, as well as conduct interviews, both in-person and over the phone. I have learned how to work the all the equipment in a radio station, including copying and editing equipment. My last year at Longwood, I was the station manager of WMLU, where I worked with a committee to make sure everything ran smoothly. I personally was in charge of setting up show times, editing and monitoring what was played and said on the radio, and helping to train new members. I have also worked with Rotunda Studios, which broadcasts the news on campus through the web. I was an on-air reporter, and also had experience with filming and editing the segments. I was one of the lead writers for the Features and Sports section of the Rotunda newspaper for four years. There, I continually was under pressure to meet weekly deadlines. I also furthered my journalistic tools and learned how to professionally conduct interviews, helping me advance my communication skills. Lastly, as a

Longwood Ambassadors, I was in charge informing people all that Longwood has to offer, through tours and high school visits. During the summers, I would work at the West Richmond branch of Vector Marketing, where I was an independent sales representative. I would contact and set up appointments with potential customers. Afterwards, I would present products to potential customers, listen to their concerns, help answer their questions, and close on sales. By the end of my last summer working with them, I had a career sales record of over $55,000.

Two weeks before graduation, I was offered two jobs that are both entry-level positions.

One is a position as an advertising consultant/manager at Pile and Company, based in Boston,

Massachusetts (The Next Wave). The other is a position as a DJ at the 103.7 FM country radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Because it is an entry-level position, the advertising position has an annual salary of

$75,440, but depending on my performance, within the next three to five years, my salary can be increased to $115,750 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). As an advertising consultant, I would be responsible for creating, presenting, and then proposing campaign ideas for ads that will not only meet the needs and desires of the clients (Education Portal, 2014), but also help generate interest in their product or service (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). I would have to work with department heads or staff to discuss, budgets and cost estimates for the advertising campaign, direct and oversee the staff that develops the advertisement, negotiate advertising contracts, and evaluate the look and feel of the advertisement (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

The DJ position has an annual salary of $39,980 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics,

2014). My duties as a DJ with the 103.7 FM station would be extremely similar to the work I have done at WMLU. However, because it is a larger station and that is recognized, along with its broadcasters, on a national level, I would have to make appearances to local and possibly national events, such as store openings, sports events, concerts, etc.

In the end, I would choose to take the DJ position in Charlotte. Even though it’s in the city (and I cannot stand living in the city), I have decided to live in a nearby suburb, Rock Hill, NC, and make the daily commute. While it doesn’t pay nearly as well as the other job, I feel that broadcasting is one of my passions and that broadcasting on a national level would be a great experience and allow me to have great opportunities that I wouldn’t get with the other job. I believe that taking the DJ position will help reach my ultimate goal of being a sports commentator. I also feel that since I have several years of experience, that will quickly advance and my pay will eventually increase. Works Cited

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014, April 1). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved September 17, 2014, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273011.htm

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014, January 8). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing- managers.htm

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Charlotte, NC. (2014). Retrieved September 18, 2014, from Numbeo: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of- living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&city1=Boston %2C+MA&country2=United+States&city2=Charlotte%2C+NC

Education Portal. (2014). Advertising Concept Consultant: Job Description, Duties and Outlook. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from Education Portal: http://education- portal.com/articles/Advertising_Concept_Consultant_Job_Description_Duties_and_O utlook.html

The Next Wave. (n.d.). Advertising Agency Search Consultant. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from The Next Wave: http://thenextwave.biz/advertising-search- consultants/