TUTV is working with some recent Klein College of Media and Communication graduates this summer to bring you the TUTV Alumni Spotlight. This feature will shed light on who these alumni are and how the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University helped them to achieve their goals.
Our first feature is 2022 KLN graduate Nic Uff (he/him), an Associate Segment Producer at Good Morning America.
How did your experience at Temple University, and more specifically Klein College Of Media and Communication, prepare you for a career in media and communication? My experience at Temple was absolutely incredible. Making the decision to go there, specifically to Klein College, was one of the best I have ever made. I attribute a lot of my success in the industry to the courses/academics but primarily to Temple Update, Temple’s weekly, live, student-run newscast. I had the privilege to serve in almost every position, eventually making my way up to Supervising Producer.
Are there any specific courses or extracurricular activities that you found to be most beneficial in developing your skills for your current position in the media industry? When it comes to specific courses, I would say Writing Workshop with Professor Peter Jaroff and TV Promotions with now-retired Professor Ed Dress. These courses allowed me to improve my writing skills, which are key in our industry. The thing that helped me the most with acquiring the skills to achieve where I am now is 100% Temple Update. Professor Jaroff runs the organization as a broadcast news program, and I see many similarities between the program and how we do things at ABC News. Covering news in the nation’s fourth-largest media market has its advantages. Temple Update taught me how to properly cover different types of stories and to always put good journalism first. One thing that I find funny is that I always used to be the person that would book the bigger interviews at Temple Update. Whether it was with the university president or government officials. Fast forward to now, and I am a booker at Good Morning America!
Can you share any valuable internships or networking opportunities you pursued while at Temple University that helped you establish connections and gain relevant media industry experience? I was fortunate enough to have had six network internships. It all started when I was invited to interview for an interview with CBS News in the Klein Career Center. That interview led to another, which led to another… next thing I knew, I had three internships with the booking team at CBS Mornings. Those internships helped me intern with NBC’s TODAY Show, both with the New York and Washington DC teams. And finally, my last internship in college was with the booking team of ABC’s Good Morning America, and they couldn’t get rid of me 🙂
What is the most significant advice you have for current students interested in pursuing a career in media and communication? The biggest advice I have for current students is to get involved! Being involved in college not only helps you become a master of your craft, but it leads to a better resume, which then leads to internships, which then leads to jobs after college. Plus, besides Temple Update giving me the skills and knowledge to become the best I could be at producing TV, I have some of my best college memories attached to that organization.
Are there any particular skills or areas of expertise they should focus on? Learn how to nail the interview! You will be competing with kids from all over the country for some of these larger internship opportunities. Make your 20-30 minutes with the hiring manager count! You have to stand out.
In your current role, what are some of the biggest challenges you face in the rapidly evolving media industry, and how do you stay ahead of the curve? As a booker, my job is to book people for interviews that air on the show, both live and taped. I try to use my age to my advantage and pitch stories that I know will help bring in more viewers to our show. Being younger and really intertwined with what’s trending really helps. It’s always important to think about the future and how to be better tomorrow.
Working at America’s most watched morning show is such a privilege that I never take for granted. Knowing that millions of people across the globe get to see my work is absolutely incredible. I used to come to GMA whenever I would visit NYC growing up. I used to leave South Jersey at 3:00 am to get to NYC for the GMA Summer concerts, and now I get to WORK THEM! So thankful to Klein College for getting me to where I am today.
TUTV Alumni Spotlight
TUTV is working with some recent Klein College of Media and Communication graduates this summer to bring you the TUTV Alumni Spotlight. This feature will shed light on who these alumni are and how the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University helped them to achieve their goals.
Our first feature is 2022 KLN graduate Nic Uff (he/him), an Associate Segment Producer at Good Morning America.
Go to templetv.net to learn more about TUTV and Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University.