Ninth Annual Media Summit Brings Top Communications Professionals to Campus

For the first time since its debut nine years ago, the Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit featured an all-Oswego alumni panel whose expertise in sports media aligned with the theme, “Get in the Game.”

Jay Beberman ’89, Bloomberg News managing editor for sports; Donna Goldsmith ’82, former chief operating officer at World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.; John Kucko ’87, sports director for WROC television in Rochester, N.Y.; and Steve Levy ’87, ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor, spoke on sports-related topics, prompted by questions from moderator Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77, chief marketing officer of NimbleTV.

They discussed such hot topics as steroid use, racial diversity in broadcasting, the decline in high school athletics participation, compensation for Division I athletes and taking American sports to
an international market.

The summit began with informal conversation, “Wake Up with Steve and Lou,” and breakfast for students. The panelists and five additional alumni who are early in their professional development visited classes throughout the day.

Following the panel, the young alumni “Career Connectors” participated in round- table discussions with students. They shared advice on how to transition from student to media professional, build effective resumes and make job-seeking successful.

Career Connectors were: Ben Amey ’10, reporter for WETM-TV in Elmira, N.Y.; Lewis Karpel ’12, photojournalist for WSTM-NBC3/WSTQ-CW6/WTVH-CBS5/CNYcentral.com in Syracuse, N.Y.; Stephanie Robusto ’11, field reporter at WMBF News in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Samantha Shelton ’11, assistant web editor for FITNESS Magazine in New York City; and Maria Urda ’12, promotional log editor for Fox Sports I in Charlotte, N.C.

Borrelli closed the summit with an inspiring sendoff. “The experience you get here is real,” Borrelli said. “It matters. It means something. Oswego media students: professionals with a GPA.”

About the Media Summit:

SUNY Oswego’s annual Media Summit is named in memory of Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell, professor emeritus of communication studies. “Doc” O’Donnell died Aug. 28, 2007, but his influence lives on in hundreds of broadcasters whose careers he helped launch. Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77 founded the summit through a leadership gift in 2005. In 2007, a significant gift to Oswego made by Al Roker ’76 of NBC’s “Today” show, including a matching gift from NBC, provided the funding to rename the summit in honor of Dr. O’Donnell.

The 2013 summit was organized by Dr. David L. Moody, faculty advisor; Janelle Francisco ’14 and Marissa Sarbak ’15, student event directors; and a team of SUNY Oswego students, with support from the Office of Alumni Relations.

—Margaret Spillett

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