A pipeline is developing between the sports internship program at WPRI-TV in Providence, RI and WBKB-11 in Alpena, MI. Two previous interns at the Providence station have launched their sports anchor/reporter careers at WBKB. The latest is STAA member Drew Celli.
“When [WBKB] announced they had a new opening, I was able to get my application and demo out before they even posted the job on their career page,” Celli recalls. “I got a great head start in the interview process.”
Celli graduated from Bryant University in Rhode Island this spring. “[WBKB] is a good career move for me because it allows me to be on air right after graduation.”
Change of plans
Celli wasn’t always set on being a TV guy. He was the play-by-play voice in college for baseball and women’s volleyball. He also called games one summer for the North Adams SteepleCats of the NECBL. The shift in Celli’s interest from radio to TV was a result of his WPRI internship. “It was my first real work in TV after years of college play-by-play. It also was a better path to having full time work right after graduation.”
Celli joined STAA this year after learning about the organization through the Sportscasting Summit STAA hosted in Spring 2020. Celli recalls, “During the pandemic, a Q&A was held with legends like Jim Nantz and Bob Costas on Zoom. Attending that event allowed me to see the connections STAA would provide.”
Tightening up
One of the first things Celli did upon joining STAA was to reformat his demo and resume. “I was able to make my resume much more concise through the STAA tips. A lot of my content was just not needed. For my demo, I restructured it in a much more clean and organized way.”
Those efforts, Celli’s hard work in college, and the pipeline from WPRI now have Celli on his way to Alpena and WBKB.
“I feel it puts me on a great starting path towards my goal of being on air in a major market.”