Network & Connect and get your start in Podcasting, On Air, Streaming, News/Talk, Sports, Social Media, Sales, Marketing, Promotions and more!

Illinois Broadcasters Foundation's "Audio Media Career Academy" powered by RAB at Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, IL, May 12th - 16th, 2025.

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APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! 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 Illinois Broadcasters Foundation's "Audio Media Career Academy" powered by RAB 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 5-day summer program.

The Illinois Broadcasters Foundation's "Audio Media Career Academy" powered by RAB 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

Here are some of the
IBF Media Career Academy highlights:

*Subject to change*
  • Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro
  • Radio's Digital Content & Social Media
  • The Power of Sports Talk Radio
  • How to Get into Business and Win
  • Everyone Is in Sales
  • Marketing and Promotions - Doing It Right
  • Building A Personal Brand That Sells
  • Audio + Video = Powerful Storytelling Tools
  • Basics of Great Voice Work and Production
  • Goal Setting & Time Management
  • Radio Talent: Doing It Live, Voice Tracking & AI
  • How to Get a Great Job
  • Podcasting - Audio's New Wave
  • News, Weather, Sports - Local TV
  • Behind The Scenes - Real Opportunities
  • Basics of Doing a Great Music Radio Show
  • Music Scheduling: How & Why
  • Selling Yourself Like A Pro
  • Cause Marketing - Impacting Your Community
  • Chicago vs. Downstate Media Opportunities
  • Love What You Do!

Industry Pros Speaking at IBF Audio Media Career Academy


Dennis Lyle

Illinois Broadcasters Association

John Gheron

Iinois Broadcasters Foundation

Kevin Cross

NBC 5 - Chicago

Marv Nyren

Cumulus, Chicago Baseball

Maleek Ndile

Marquee Sports/Chicago Cubs Baseball

Zach Wisen

Big Ten Network

Dave Moll

Big Ten Network

Terrence "TAT" Taylor

Illini House DJ/Personality

Kyle Hutchinson

Video Storyteller

Brian Byers

WSOY Host - Marconi Award Winner

Doug Barnette

Player Management International - Agent

RJ Crace

Announcer/Podcaster - Central Illinois Multimedia Group

Jeff Schmidt

SVP Professional Development, RAB

Mike Hulvey

President/CEO, RAB

Students Say It Best!


Emily Wisniewski

Justin Harris

Carmen Corley

Destiny Hartwell

Frequently Asked Questions

The IBF Audio Media Career Academy is an intense five day program held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, IL in partnership with the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and 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 IBF Audio Media Career Academy to teach interactive sessions. Over the five 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 IBF Audio Media Career Academy, you are highlighted on the National Radio Talent System website to broadcasters regionally and nationally. 70% of students who attend a IBF Audio Media Career Academy 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 five days to participate in the Media Career Academy.

College students, recent graduates, grad students, interns and part-timers at radio or TV stations are welcomed and accepted from all universities in the state and region. 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 IBF Audio Media Career Academy and a “Radio Marketing Professional” certification from RAB.

Scholarship funds have been made available to cover the full registration cost of students wishing to participate in the 2025 – IBF Media Career Academy. Housing, if needed, is available for an extra fee.

Yes. You may cancel your registration and request a refund for the IBF Audio Media Career Academy by April 30th, 2025.

Illinois Broadcasters Foundation


The Illinois Broadcasters Foundation (IBF) provides, promotes and facilitates educational opportunities in the broadcast industry through scholarships and grants, preserves the history of broadcasting and facilitates research and career development opportunities in the broadcast industry.

Illinois Broadcasters Foundation Members:

John Gehron, Chairman, AccuRadio
Drew Horowitz, Treasurer/Secretary, Gemini Strategies & Advisory

DIRECTORS

Marv Dyson, Director Emeritus, IBA
Carlos Fernandez, Quincy
Marilyn Kushak, Midwest Family Broadcasting
Dennis Lyle, President/CEO, Illinois Broadcasters Association and IBFoundation
Jerry Schnacke, Chicago
Sarah Shellhammer, Jacksonville
Bayard (Bud) Walters, President, Cromwell Radio Group
Steve Wheeler, Carterville
Frank Whittaker, Chicago
Marty Wilke, Chicago
Dana Withers, Illinois



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See what a future in broadcasting looks like when you join a Talent Institute

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