By Megan Rowe | Falcon Media
According to the 2022-2023 Nielsen DMA Rankings, Toledo ranks #80 out of 200 local television markets. At the front of this media scene, you’ll find plenty of talented individuals who have at least one thing in common – a degree from Bowling Green State University (BGSU).
“Those [Toledo] stations are finding value in our students and they’re hiring them. It honestly doesn’t take that much effort because they [students and graduates] have the skill sets that they want already and they’re snatching them up as soon as they can,” said Jasmine Crighton, associate teaching professor and BG24 advisor.
Jasmine plays a strong role in guiding both current students and alumni toward the Toledo media industry. Because of her personal connections to journalists at WTOL and Channel 13, she often receives notifications for job opportunities at these stations and forwards them to students via email and her personal X (formally known as Twitter) account.
“I have worked in television professionally before so anyone who has any questions about working at a TV station I can answer and help them get those jobs,” said Crighton.
Andrew Bailey, former BG News editor-in-chief, graduated from BGSU in May of 2022 and now works full-time at WTOL 11 as a digital content producer. During his time as a student, he focused on print journalism. When he was offered a position at WTOL 11 as a digital content producer, he took this as an opportunity to learn a new medium of journalism that he hadn’t taken the time to experience in college.
“Sometimes I have to turn stories in crunch time if it’s breaking news and the writing skills that I developed at Bowling Green have defiantly helped with that. I feel comfortable with the actual writing aspects so then the only thing I have to worry about is how to get it out efficiently and accurately,” said Bailey.
Blake Pierce, a current senior at BGSU, works at Channel 13 as a part-time digital content producer. While on campus, he also works as the Falcon Media News Content Director. His responsibilities at Channel 13 include checking the news inboxes, answering phone calls about news stories, listening to the police scanners and bringing breaking news to their digital platforms (social media, website, and apps).
“I feel like the work I have done for Falcon Media was able to set me up for working at Channel 13 and I have been able to grow even further since working with them,” said Pierce.
During his time at Channel 13, Blake says he has had to write about a wide range of topics that can include everything from engaging local events to more serious topics, such as crimes. Blake recalls one instance where he received a call from a family member of an individual who was onboard a plane that was diverted from the Toledo airport to another location. Channel 13 then had to reach out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the 180th Fighter Wing to learn that an F22 Fighter Jet dropped their fuel tanks due to an in-flight emergency, forcing flights en route to Toledo to be diverted to other nearby airports.
“It was a good experience to figure out who you had to connect with to get to the bottom of the story,” said Pierce.
Sophia Walcher, a 2022 broadcast journalism graduate explains she wouldn’t have gotten to where she is in her career without her time at BGSU and the Kuhlin Center, specifically working with BG24.
“It wasn’t until I went through those experiences and was a part of an environment that was so similar to what I would see in the real world that it gave me not only the skill sets but the comfortability to know what I’m in for,” said Walcher.
Sophia now works at Channel 13 in Toledo as a lifestyle producer. When she first started her journey at Channel 13, she was a news producer but because of the skills she developed at BGSU, she earned the role of producing a lifestyle show. Her responsibilities include creating editorials and branded content for a live talk show.
“It’s been very exciting and the most profound experience learning from action and just learning from doing things every day,” said Walcher.
The connection between BGSU and the Toledo media scene isn’t just about an industry, it’s about a passion for storytelling. From the Kuhlin Center to Toledo newsrooms, our current students and alumni are creating an impact in the world of journalism.