(April 7, 2011) The late sportscaster Charlie Jones used to advise young sportscasters to “go to Boise,” meaning go wherever the job is. John Herrick is following that advice. An STAA client and native of Greenwood, Indiana, Herrick has accepted a broadcasting and play-byplay position with New Media Broadcasters.
NMB is a four-station cluster in Havre, MT.
“I’m definitely excited to just do everything, to just learn everything about all the facets that go into a radio station,” Herrick says excitedly. “That’s the great thing about working at a small station like this, you become versatile and multi-faceted. You do everything from news and sports to running a board.”
Herrick is the third STAA client to join NMB in the past 18 months, joining Jim McCabe and Allen Faul, who are both still with the company.
A 2010 graduate of DePauw University in Indiana, Herrick ranked in the Top 20 of all collegiate sportscasters in the United States each of the past two years in STAA’s annual ratings. He joined STAA following graduation.
“Thanks for all of the great advice [STAA has given to me], not to mention all of the great work the folks at STAA do,” Herrick says. “I would have never gotten my name, demo, and resume in front of [NMB Program Director] Geoff Cole if it were not for you. I know he wouldn’t have seen me or heard of me if STAA hadn’t put together my Talent Page.
One of the keys to Herrick landing the job was his cover letter.
“I took all the advice STAA gave me, applied the cover letter writing tips, and made sure I personalized the heck out of the letter. I let them know I knew all about their station, how they recently transitioned to HD radio and how they are part of a four-station cluster. I tried to personalize it as much as I could.”
Herrick remembers seeing an NMB job on the STAA forums last summer when Faul was eventually hired. “I don’t think I applied for it the first time but I remember seeing it again thinking it seems like a great fit for someone coming right out of college.”
Another smart thing Herrick did was to follow some of the job-hunting suggestions Geoff Cole shared last summer on the STAA forums.
“I just followed Geoff’s advice,” Herrick grins.
(Visit John’s STAA Talent Page).