Malcolm Gladwell’s best selling book “Outliers” popularized the 10,000 hour rule. He writes that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill, like playing an instrument or Bill Gates writing computer code. STAA member Austin Samuels is eager to apply the 10,000 hour rule to broadcasting. He’ll be piling-up the hours quickly as a new morning show host and sports broadcaster with McVey Entertainment Group, a four station radio cluster in Lewiston, ID.
Samuels uncovered the opportunity through cold contacting. “I was searching for broadcasting jobs in the Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho area and didn’t have much luck,” he states. “I cold contacted McVey back in February to see if they had any on-air/sports needs. There wasn’t necessarily a full-time position open, but there were some holes they needed to fill. With some patience and a lot of polite persistence, I was able to land the job.”
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Broadcasting sports is part of Samuels’ new position. “This job gives me the opportunity to broadcast games consistently at the collegiate level for the first time. Our station covers Lewis-Clark State College for men’s and women’s basketball, along with baseball. LCSC also hosts the NAIA Baseball World Series each year, which we cover as well.
“This position also gives me a chance to work with Brian Danner, who has been the voice of Lewis-Clark State College athletics for the last 30 years. I’m excited to observe and learn from Danner, who is very respected in the area.”
Finding his passion
Samuels’ obsession with sports started when growing up in small town Montana. “I was addicted to the energy and excitement of sports,” he recalls. “I knew I needed to make a career out of it, but I wasn’t quite sure how.”
He discovered the how at Washington State University and it’s acclaimed Edward R. Murrow College of Communications. “During my sophomore year, I was on the call for a WSU football game against BYU for KUGR, WSU’s student radio station. After that experience, I was completely hooked! I knew play-by-play was going to be my career path.”
Job market challenges
Landing his first full-time broadcasting job was difficult for Samuels. “I graduated from Washington State last December but had been on the job hunt since October, so it was a nine-month process. I had been interviewed numerous times and offered a few positions, but none of which were the right fit.”
To help cope with the frustration, Samuels concentrated on his broadcasts of high school and American Legion baseball. “I tried to focus on what I could control, which was putting my best foot forward and improving with each broadcast. I used STAA as a tool to improve as well, by submitting to the monthly group critique as often as possible.”
Samuels joined STAA in March, 2023. “As graduation was nearing, I was struggling to find available jobs, until I found STAA. Once I found out about the other tools STAA has to help broadcasters improve and succeed, I knew I had to join.
“STAA has helped me to represent myself as a professional. When I first joined, I had no clue how to organize a demo reel or send a quality cover letter. STAA has helped me to improve in those areas, and so many more. The monthly Group Critiques have also helped immensely. I try to send an audio/video clip as often as possible because I am always looking to improve.”
Samuels’ rate of improvement will accelerate now that he’s on the air every day.
“I’m nowhere near [Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule] mark, but I’m now headed in the right direction with this position. I am so excited to take on the challenge of hosting a daily morning show and play a large part in our sports coverage.”