RSJ News
TV sports director offers advice to high school journalists
11-06-2009
Bryan Samudio advises high school students Nov. 6 not to wear a wireless mic in a hot tub.
“He scared me,” Samudio said during his keynote address for High School Journalism Day. At his remarks, laughter broke out in the rear of the JCSU theater. Lerude’s grandson, on the staff of Reno High’s Red & Blue, was in attendance. A student shouted, “This is Griffin Lerude.”
“Your grandfather is a great man,” Samudio said, quickly recovering. “The Reynolds School is a better place because of him.”
Nearly 200 participants registered for this year’s event. That’s a record number for recent years, said event organizers Paul Mitchell and Zanny Marsh. Students and their high school journalism advisers spend the day attending workshops in five areas: print, visual arts, public relations/advertising, multimedia and advising.
In his keynote address, Samudio urged students to be versatile. Reporters at his station are All Platform Journalists. Each carries a Flip HD video camera to record unexpected breaking new events.
Samudio, a’ 96 Reynolds School alumnus, recommended internships, as well.
“You are going to learn so much from those people,” he said.
When asked by a student about his career mistakes, Samudio hestitated only briefly.
“I dropped an f-bomb on the air,” he said, explaining that he’d muttered an obscenity off-camera while his microphone was on. A disgruntled employee at the Las Vegas station did not edit the comment and the mistake was aired. Five people were fired, including Samudio.
Samudio said he’s now the most careful reporter at the Reno station.
“You have to make sure you are handling your business,” he said.
