From the Desk of Damo

Since graduating from Butler University in December 2004 with a degree in Media Arts, I immediately began working my way up the proverbial “media ladder.”

My first job in the media industry came in February 2005 at FOX 59 in Indianapolis. Frankly, I wasn’t all that excited about it at the time. I was a 20-30 hour per week Production Assistant, which is media code for “prompter monkey” or “camera bitch.” It didn’t take long for me to figure out, however, that there were a lot of good resources in the newsroom…specifically in the Sports Department. Soon, I was going to games and shooting highlights…even writing copy from time to time. FOX 59 turned out to be a fantastic 10-month prep course for working in local television. And, despite having to work a 2nd job (and sometimes a 3rd) to pay the bills, this gig was easily the most fun, to date, I’ve had professionally.

I left my newly found comfort zone in December 2005 for a position with WLFI in Lafayette, Indiana. There, I ended up doing a little bit of everything…though technically I was hired as a News Videographer. Most of the time, that’s what I was doing. I’d go out on stories with reporters, or on my own, shoot/edit video, ask some questions, etc. Eventually I found myself reporting here and there…sometimes news, sometimes sports. All things considered, I think I never really gave myself a chance while I was here. Things just never really “clicked” and everything was always awkward. I wasn’t in Lafayette for very long, as I had my eyes on a different gig within the station. When it became clear that I didn’t have some of the…ahem…attributes they were looking for, I moved on.

The next stop was at WTWO in Terre Haute, Indiana for my first real deal television sports job. I was hired in June 2006 to be a Sports Reporter/Anchor. Anyone who’s ever held down a position in this industry with that title knows that it also includes an awful lot of video work. But that was OK, as I like being behind the camera just as much as being in front of it. Eight months on the job, and other than the inability to save up any sort of coin, I was really enjoying things. I covered some big events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Colts football games, dozens of college basketball games, and plenty of high school games. Personal tragedies began to force my mind elsewhere in early 2007 and I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d be moving on. It just hurt too much to be there.

Eventually in January 2008 I landed at my current post with WebStream Productions. The rest of the 4-1-1 on this job is in the “About” section…so go read it already.