Radio Connection graduate Jeff Malinoff
When
Jeff Malinoff enrolled in
Radio Connection, he’d recently graduated from college with plans of launching a career in radio. The Covid-19 pandemic led to him reassessing his gameplan. See how Jeff found his footing and elevated his radio skills fast, thanks to our no-nonsense approach to radio broadcasting education and the expert mentorship of Gow Media COO, Craig Larson.
What led you to Radio Connection in the first place?
“Well, kind of have to thank COVID for that one. I was actually working for a news station in Nashville, Tennessee called Nashville Sports Radio. I was working for them for two months, and then COVID happened. And they had to let people go just because there were too many people there…. And so, I found jobs after that, working 9 to 5s and things like that. And then once I go to a point where I really didn’t want to do 9 to 5s anymore, I was like, ‘I want to get back into sports broadcasting, sports radio,’ whatever have you. …
My mom was like, ‘Just find a broadcasting school. Let’s just have you go back to school. You’re just staying at home while on lockdown. Why not go for that?’ And so, during that process, we were looking at things and my mom found Radio Connection…. We made a call to the Admissions Advisor… and we went from there.”
Jeff explains the difference between Radio Connection and his college experience, interviewing Miss America, and more in our Straight Talk video below!
What was it like training with longtime radio pro, Craig Larson, COO of Gow Media?
“He was like, ‘Yeah. I already see you have a background, a resume, if you will, of radio in the past, in sports radio. We really don’t need to talk about the smaller things. We can get right to just doing recordings and working on what you say on air and doing co-host with some of the people I work with.’
I really started on the ground running…. He was just like, ‘All right. I know your background. Let’s not dillydally and get right into it.’ I think that was a huge help from Craig. I really appreciate that from him.”
How did Craig give you direct input and advice on the content for your sports radio podcast?
“What I’ve learned so much from him is that first five minutes is so crucial to really get that audience in. Because, like everyone knows, everyone’s attention span is so miniscule when it comes to, like, podcasts…. If they’re uninterested in it, they’re not going to listen to it. …
He helped me really put in perspective what to talk about, how to talk the right way, get the audience hooked right away. He gave me, like, a tree, if you will, of, like, ‘Okay. Once you talk about this subject, you got to go into these other sub-subjects about that subject, so you can go into more detail and have your show become longer. So, it’s not just a five-minute show. You can extend it to a 30-minute show.’…
Craig has been nothing but a true help. I’ve talked with him constantly…. He let me get in contact with other people, and I’ve gotten advice from his people he’s worked with down there in Houston. And it’s just been great connection after great connection I’ve had with Craig. And I think that’s what’s so huge about Radio Connection is who you get to talk to and who’s already involved in the business you want to be in. And they let you get connected from there. So, you have this whole line of connections … and that’s been a huge help.”
What, in your opinion, does it take to be a pro in the industry?
(On right) Craig Larson, COO, Esmeralda Perez, Office Manager & Continuity, and David Gow, owner and CEO of Gow Media
“I think it really goes on in terms of how you treat your fellow coworkers, especially, and how you treat others around you. Because if you become… self-oriented, people are going to feel that a mile away and almost drift away from you, especially when you’re first starting. You got to be a team player. You got to be understanding. You got to be like, ‘Okay. I got to do this stuff that I don’t want to do right away.’ You got to just get down and dirty. You got to get your feet wet right away, and you got to just start from the bottom, work your way up. I think that’s a huge part [of] starting in this business.”
It’s great to see how inspired Craig gets mentoring his students. Have you seen that yourself?
“You can feel that a mile away from Craig. He’s just that kind of guy that wants to help the people starting today to make sure there is a business in the future…. He’s a very unselfish guy, and you can just [sense that] right off the bat when you talk to him.”
Learn more about
Radio Connection for training in radio broadcasting, sportscasting, podcasting, announcing, and more!
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