APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW! Take a huge step toward starting your career in On Air, Podcasting, Streaming, Audio Production, News/Talk, Sports, Social Media, Sales, Marketing, Promotions and more!
The Georgia Association of Broadcasters Radio Talent Institute™ at Grady College of Journalism on the campus of the UGA in Athens, Georgia creates opportunities for new and emerging careers in media. It is truly an incubator of well-rounded, well-educated college students, or recent graduates with a passion for media and a determination to get into the business.
The National Radio Talent System™ is made up of multiple Talent Institutes at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Each institute brings in industry professionals from around the country as Guest Speakers who bring their real-world knowledge to this intensive 6-day summer program.
The GAB Radio Talent Institute™ at Grady College of UGA is the campus-to-career connection most students need to begin their broadcast career, each not only learning from the dozens of pros but are able to network with them individually. This proves invaluable, as most will otherwise never have such an opportunity to meet and speak with these professionals. Likewise, these pros already have an introduction to these students who are available for open positions.
Upon completion of the institute, students will further their networking opportunities with access the National Radio Talent System's Career Center. This is where those in the industry are able to discover and hire NRTS graduates, who very likely, will be tomorrow's industry leaders.
Here are some of the Institute highlights (See Curriculum for more)
- Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro
- Radio's Digital Content & Social Media
- Programming Sports Talk Radio
- How to Get In and Win
- Marketing and Promotions - Doing It Right
- Basics of Great Voice Work and Production
- Goal Setting & Time Management
- Doing It Live & Voice Tracking
- How to Get a Good Job
- How to Do A Great Talk Radio Show
- Basics of Doing a Great Music Radio Show
- Music Scheduling How & Why
- Sales & Marketing
Daily Curriculum
for the GAB Radio Talent Institute
| 8:45 am |
Opening Comments |
Dr. Janice Hume, PhD jhume@uga.edu
 Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Henry W. Grady College, Athens, GA
Randy Gravley rgravley@gab.org
President Georgia Association of Broadcasters, Atlanta
Stephanie Moreno s.moreno@uga.edu
UGA Scholastic Outreach
On-Campus Director
GAB Radio Talent Institute |
| 9:30-10:30am |
You Never Know Where Your Path Will Lead You |
Erica Farber efarber@rab.com
Former President and CEO
RAB/NRTS, Las Vegas, NV |
| 10:45-11:45am |
"Job Opportunities in Broadcasting Today" |
Kent Dunn kent.dunn@bbgi.com
Regional Vice President
Beasley Media, Augusta/Fayetteville |
| 12 noon-1:00pm |
Lunch
|
|
| 1:00-2:00pm |
Podcasting Today and Future |
Mike McVay  mikemcvay@mcvaymedia.com
President/Founder
McVay Media
Avon Lake, OH |
| 2:00-2:30pm |
Air Check Master Class |
Mike McVay |
| 2:45-3:45pm |
Conducting a Great CNA |
Val Carolin val.carolin@salematlanta.com
Regional Vice President/General Manager
Salem Media, Inc. Atlanta |
| 4:30-5:30pm |
Social Hour at The Rook And Pawn with Industry Pros |
| 8:45am |
Announcements and Agenda Preview |
Stephanie Moreno s.moreno@uda.edu
UGA Scholastic Outreach, On-Campus Director, GAB Radio Talent Institute |
| 9:00-10:15am |
Tuning in to the Opportunities in Broadcasting |
Greg Davis Jr. Gdavisjr@dbiatlanta.com, VP/Market Manager, Davis Broadcasting of Atlanta |
| 10:30-11:45m |
Building a Career from On Air, PD, VP, VP/GM, SVP, to President |
Allen Power allen.power@salemmedia.com, President, Broadcast Media, Salem Media Group, Atlanta |
| 12 noon-1:00pm |
Lunch
|
|
| 1:00-2:15pm |
Creating Content for Social Media in a Digital Age |
Lori Lewis lori@lorilewismedia.com, Owner/Founder,
Lori Lewis Media, Atlanta |
| 2:30 |
Board Vans for WUGA |
| 3:00-4:30pm |
WUGA Tour
Differences between Public Radio and Commercial Radio |
Alexia Ridley amridley@uga.edu, News Director
Emma Auer emma.auer@uga.edu, Senior Producer
Daniel McDonald daniel.mcdonald@uga.edu,
Production and Operations Director
Lara Dua lara.dua@uga.edu, Program Director and Content Strategist |
| 4:45 |
Board Vans to UGA |
| 5:15=6:15pm |
Social Hour at The Rook And Pawn with Industry Pros |
| 6:00-10:00 am |
Live Broadcast |
Big Tigger Morning Show
khalia.morris@audacy.com
V103/WVEE
Audacy, Atlanta |
| 10:00-10:10 am |
Announcements & Agenda Preview |
Stephanie Moreno |
| 10:15-11:15 am |
Marketing & Promotions
|
Chandra Kinsey                                               Â
Chandra.kinsey@audacy.com
Regional Promotions Director, South
Audacy, Atlanta/Chattanooga/Memphis |
| 11:30 am-12:30 pm |
Basics of Doing a Great Music Radio Show |
Emily Bolden Emily.bolden@audacy.com, Brand Manager Star 94, Audacy, Atlanta |
| 12:30 pm |
Lunch |
|
| 1:30-2:30pm |
AI |
Howard Toole howardt@south107.com
Owner
Rome Radio LLC |
| 2:45-3:45pm |
Goal Setting |
Rob Babin rob.babin@cmg.com
Executive Vice President Radio, Cox Media Group, Atlanta   |
| 8:45-9:00 am |
Announcements and Agenda Preview |
Stephanie Moreno |
| 9:15-10:15 am |
The Thinking Salesperson |
Sanders Hickey sanhickey@aol.com, Partner, Golden Isles Broadcasting,
Brunswick, GA |
| 10:30-11:30 am |
"Keys" to getting into the Radio/Media Business
|
Rick Caffey rick.caffey@audacy.com, SVP/Market Manager, Audacy, Atlanta |
| 11:30 am |
Lunch |
|
| 12:30-1:30 pm |
Your Radio Career Playbook: Finding the Jobs and Making Yourself a Must-Have |
John Shomby, jshomby@countrysradiocoach.com, Country's Radio Coach, Nashville, TN |
| 1:40-2:40 pm |
Audio Measurement and Audience Insights |
Geri Ruppert geri.ruppert@nielsen.com, Sr. Manager of Client Learning, Nielsen Audio, Cincinnati, OH |
| 2:50-4:00 pm |
What Media Companies Look For
Bonus: Aircheck Masterclass |
John Dimick john.dimick@cumulus.com
SVP Operations, Cumulus Media Corporate Atlanta |
| 5:00-6:00pm |
Social Hour at The Rook and Pawn with Industry Pros |
|
| 6:30 |
Bus to Truist Park/Dickey Broadcasting Co., Atlanta |
Big Tigger Morning Show, V103/WVEE, Audacy Atlanta |
| 9:30-9:50 am |
Welcome and station tour |
Scott McFarlane, Scottmcfarlane@680thefan.com, Operations Manager,
Sports Radio 680 The Fan, Atlanta, GA |
| 9:50-10:00 am |
View last segment of the morning show
thelockerroom Sports Radio 680
|
|
| 10:10-11:00 am |
Meet the Morning Show
|
Home Team Brandon Leak, brandonleak@680thefan.com
John Michaels johnmichaels@680thefan.com
Brian Finneran brianfinneran@680thefan.
Sports Radio 680 The Fan, Atlanta, GA |
| 11:00 am |
Tour Truist Park |
|
| 12:30-1:30pm |
Lunch with David Dickey |
David Dickey daviddickey@680thefan.com , President/General Manager, Dickey Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA |
| 1:30-2:45 pm |
Production/Digital/Social Media |
Rob Jenners, Creative Services Director, robjenners@680thefan.com
Corey Holtzberg, Production Director, coreyholtzberg@680thefana.com
Andrew Groover, Director of Digital Media, andrewgroover@680thefan.com |
| 2:45-3:15 pm |
Braves Radio Network Pre-Game |
Chris Dimino chrisdimino@680thefan.com
Barrett Sallee barrettsallee@680thefan.com
Pre-Game Show Hosts |
| 3:15 pm |
Depart for UGA Campus |
|
| 8:45-9:00 am |
Announcements and Agenda Preview |
Stephanie Moreno |
| 9:00-10:00 am |
What is a Traffic Report |
Doug Turnbull fireballturnbull@gmail.com Atlanta Journal-Constitution Gridlock Guy Columnist |
| 10:15-11:15 am |
Adjusting from College to Pro |
Dr. Dale Van Cantfort, dvancantfort@piedmont.edu, Dept Chair, Mass Comm, Piedmont College, Demorest, GA
TBD Million Connally-Cooper, connallycooper1@gmail.com
Producer (NRTS Graduate) V103, Atlanta
Taejah Harper tjharper@uga.edu, Assistant Director of Development, Grady College
Abby Jessen Abigail.jessen@cmg.com, On Air Talent/ Asst. PD (NRTS Graduate), WSB Cox Media, Atlanta |
| 11:30-12:30 pm |
TBD |
|
| 12:30 0pm |
Lunch |
|
| 1:30-2:30pm |
How to Get a Good Job
Air Check Sessions - Master Class |
Don Anthony themouth@tds.net, Morning Mouth Magazine, Morning Show Boot Camp, Atlanta |
| 2:45 pm |
Awarding of Certificates & Closing Remarks
|
Randy Gravley – GAB, rgravley@gab.org
Erica Farber – RAB/NRTS efarber@rab.com |
Industry Pros Speaking at GAB Radio Talent Institute
Chris Eagan
Vice President Audience & Operations
Cox Media Group
Atlanta, GA
Chandra Kinsey
Regional Promotions Director
Audacy, Inc.
Atlanta | Chattanooga | Memphis
Callie Dauler
Podcaster/Radio-TV Producer
Founder/Partner
tentwentytwo Projects
Atlanta, GA
Big Tigger
Big Tigger Morning Show
WVEE-V103 Atlanta
Audacy, Inc.
Don Turnbull
PM Drive/Traffic Anchor
Traffic/News
WSB Atlanta
Cox Media Group
GAB Radio Talent Institute Students Say It Best!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Georgia Association of Broadcasters Radio Talent Institute is an intense 6-day program held on the campus of Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA in partnership with National Radio Talent System.
National Radio Talent System is the only program of its kind in the world. It’s a system of Radio Talent Institutes on college campuses across America. Its mission is to discover, coach and nurture the next generations of professionals in the industry.
National Radio Talent System brings over 30 radio professionals to the GAB Radio Talent Institute to teach interactive sessions. Over the ten days you will personally learn from them, meet, mingle, and network with them. It could take years to meet and build relationships with this many broadcasters otherwise. Broadcast professionals from almost every aspect of the radio industry lead sessions; on-air, sales, digital, sports, news, production, management, marketing, programming, social media, etc.
After completion of the GAB Radio Talent Institute, you are highlighted on the National Radio Talent System website to broadcasters regionally and nationally. 70% of students who attend the GAB Radio Talent Institute get their first job in broadcasting after graduation.
YES. You don’t have to choose one or the other. To date, every radio station has allowed their interns to break away from the internship for ten days to participate in Radio Talent Institutes.
All college students, recent graduates and grad students from all universities in the state and region and interns and part-timers at radio or TV stations are welcomed. A total of 25 students are accepted on a rolling acceptance, so the earlier you apply, the better your chances.
The National Radio Talent System provides a “Certificate of Completion” from the GAB Radio Talent Institute and a “Radio Marketing Professional” certification from the Radio Advertising Bureau.
A $395 Registration fee is paid after you are notified of acceptance, and that cost includes a meal card for lunch to use during the 6 days. Housing, if needed, is available on campus for an extra fee.
Yes. You may cancel your registration and request a refund for the GAB Institute at the University of GA in Athens by April 15, 2025
GAB's Mission
Each student attending the GAB Radio Talent Institute are able to because of the hard work and financial resources provided by the GAB, in association with the National Radio Talent System™.
The team of professional broadcasters at GAB are dedicated to educating, empowering, and inspiring those sharing a passion for this industry.
We are all truly excited to offer this first step in launching your exciting broadcasting career.
The Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GAB) was founded in Savannah, Georgia by William T. Knight in July of 1934. It was founded as a trade association to represent the interests of Georgia's over-the-air radio and television licensees.
Randy Gravely serves as President of the GAB since late 2024. Today, membership is comprised of more than 500 radio and television broadcasters who reach more than 95% of Georgia's population every week. With offices located in the North Atlanta area, membership covers all 159 counties in the state.
The GAB provides technical, regulatory, and advocacy support to members, as well as offering continuing professional enrichment opportunities designed to keep Georgia broadcasters at the forefront of the industry.
The GAB's business model is designed to allow members to benefit from all the services without requiring dues.
To learn more about us please visit https://www.gab.org/services/pep/ or follow them on all their social media platforms.
