"The Fall Conference, this year with a great and relevant name ,was
great for both students and alumni alike. Not only was the panel  very
varied throughout the career spectrum, but they all had realistic
answers regarding what's going on in the industry today. There is
nowhere else that you can talk so openly with people who are in the
business now, not 20 years ago. It's a great event I look forward to
every year."
   - Mike Couzens ('11), WJPZ General Manager

"The panelists were really positive about the job market. As a Senior,
they made me feel confident that even though the economy isn't doing so
well, there are still opportunities out there, especially with the
strong Syracuse network. They definitely helped ease my post-graduation
stress!"
   - Niki Schloss ('10), WJPZ Program Director

 
"I am so glad that I attended the Fall Conference this year! The
panelist gave great pointers on what to do in order to gain a job after
graduation and help to give me a better understanding of how to
communicate with my audience as an on-air personality. Since I am the
current Promotions Director at WJPZ, the panelists also helped me
formulate new ways to be more creative in regards to how I can plan and
execute contests on air. I learned so much!" 
   - Michelle Buchwalter ('10), WJPZ Promotions Director

 

For the first time ever, students and panelists alike took to Twitter to express their thoughts live.  Here's a recap of all the Tweets:

 

rsource: #wjpzcon thanks to all the panelists! about 4 hours ago from web    
MinaRadio: I was late for #wjpzcon but at least I made it! about 9 hours ago from twidroid    
ReggieRiley: Look I&apos;m updating my twitter! I promise to be better about it from now on :) Thanks #wjpzcon for some great info! about 9 hours ago from web     mattfrieds: Looks like the WJPZ Fall Conference was full of sound advice. Thanks fellow alums. And congrats to students for showing up. #wjpzcon about 9 hours ago from web     dbaustin: Sorry I missed this year&apos;s event. #wjpzcon sounds like it went very well! about 9 hours ago from Tweetie     AlexSilverman: Just back from #wjpzcon - great panelists, great info, very informative. Thanks @JoshShear @kcrich23 @deafgeoff @ralphieaversa & all others! about 10 hours ago from Tweetie     thisisjoshua: Great time speaking at #wjpzcon. Home for a bit, then downtown for the Zombie Walk and hosting at Wise Guys. Busy little Saturday. #Syracuse about 10 hours ago from Tweetie     MinaRadio: RT @ulfoesterle How video helps radio: Nicole trying to drop it low with help from @MinaRadio #Sirius #wjpzcon http://bit.ly/2AaK0a about 10 hours ago from twidroid     deafgeoff: Thanks to everyone who came to the #wjpzcon ! See @joshshear &apos;s tweets from the conf, recaps and more later! about 10 hours ago from txt     joshshear: .@ulfoesterle thanks for picking up the #wjpzcon notes! Full report this week about 11 hours ago from UberTwitter     ulfoesterle: How video helps radio: Nicole trying to drop it low with help from @MinaRadio #Sirius #wjpzcon http://bit.ly/2AaK0a about 11 hours ago from web     auxrecords: http://923now.com/ was picked as a good design for a radio station website. #wjpzcon about 11 hours ago from TweetDeck     HondoMesa: Hey guys, how&apos;s the WJPZ conference going? @ulfoesterle @ralphieaversa @joshshear @thisisjoshua @jwade @deafgeoff @mbuchwalter #wjpzcon about 11 hours ago from TweetDeck     ulfoesterle: Consider using http://www.coveritlive.com/ for live events. via @joshshear #wjpzcon about 11 hours ago from web     ulfoesterle: @liambright we talked about potential @honorbright promos at the #wjpzcon up at SU about 12 hours ago from web     ulfoesterle: WJPZ Communications Bailout Conference @ralphieaversa @joshshear @thisisjoshua @jwade @deafgeoff @mbuchwalter are here #wjpzcon about 12 hours ago from web     ulfoesterle: We want news information fed to us these days. We&apos;re not seeking it out. @thisisjoshua #wjpzcon about 12 hours ago from web     joshshear: sorry for the slowdown - we&apos;ve moved into very station-specific ideas; trying to keep the notes fairly applicable all-around #wjpzcon about 12 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: correction RT I went out and found any job i could find that was interesting in the place i was going @thisisjoshua #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: i went out and found any job i could find was in the place i was going @thisisjoshua #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: networking, hard work, doing everything you can can score you your first job - bell, @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: do some research. make sure anyone you&apos;re approaching for a job or for a favor knows that you know them. -delsignore #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: if budget is a problem, tap into your local resources. what&apos;s around? who&apos;s around? @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: have an idea? pitch it. what&apos;s the worst that happens? someone says no? big deal. maybe they love it. -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: want to capture attention? have. great. ideas. @krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: web/new media: it&apos;s quantitative. you know how many people are tuning in, you&apos;re getting interaction. #wjpzcon @krich23 about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: providing unique/niche content can be hugely beneficial for you - you corner a market. @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: use all your technologies -- the people are still out there, listening, streaming. -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: web sales in a local radio cluster - we look for 10% of our proposal to go interactive @krich23 #wjpzcon #syracuse about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: get into the building. maybe someone&apos;s sick and you can help out. things can open up when you&apos;re not expecting them. -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: want to be on air, maybe walk in on the sales side to get in the door. maybe you&apos;ll really enjoy it. -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: keep an open mind, go into a related field if it makes sense for your career. @krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     bcubbison: Following @joshshear reports on broadcasting and new media from #wjpzcon at #syracuse about 13 hours ago from web     joshshear: if you don&apos;t have a long time on air, plan your reel, your transitions, plan it out now, be ready to wow stations @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: little guys are signing longer contracts. @ulfoesterle @krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: quality and personal touch are a great thing; lients love feeling like they&apos;re the most important person in the world to you -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: a top 40 student station can offer a lot to a business for little money. you have college students - people want you! @krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: niche advertising, niche targeting are important for businesses - sell places into the right station. -@krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: some companies are adding benefits back so they can attract talented people. -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: some companies are more into the bottom dollar, but some companies are going to hire back people they&apos;ve lost -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     kelvinringold: RT @JoshShear: don&apos;t be afraid to be entrepreneurial if you can&apos;t find the job you want. try something new. @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon <-- about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: use some of your connections if you&apos;re trying to be entrepreneurial @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: don&apos;t be afraid to be entrepreneurial if you can&apos;t find the job you want. try something new. @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: in sales, marketing, we&apos;re one of the few that need new employees -- it&apos;s commissioned, so money isn&apos;t as tight @krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: the first thing that gets cut at a business is ad spending. that makes no sense; how will ppl know what you do? @krich23 #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: need to get out of the box you&apos;re in, who can you reach, who will pay off big in 10 years? who might but who might not have? -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: you have to open your eyes and look at places you haven&apos;t looked before to keep revenue going -bell #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: there are a lot of new event productions happening, as a new revenue channel @ulfoesterle #wjpzcon about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: using new media and the web to showcase their businesses in ways they haven&apos;t done before @krich23 #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: from a sales side, advertisers want the same ad/marketing packages for a lot less money - @krich23 #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: on air, phrase your opinions as audience-engaging questions, not declarative statements; they&apos;re alienating. -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: want to be in news? try not to show your biases -- appearances can influence outcomes -@jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: even if you think your stuff is hidden from a potential employer, they could find a channel in. -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: maybe you don&apos;t want to be facebook friends with people you work with or for, or who owork for you @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: a lot of the room is on twitter and/or facebook. you do need to be careful what you put online. - bell, delsignore @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: hiring: i try not to be intrusive enough to google people, but some managers do @jwade, delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: remember, anything you do on the internet can be seen by ANYBODY @deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: don&apos;t just contact people when you need a job - stay in touch. twitter, facebook, etc. @krich23 #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: it&apos;s important to make connections even by accident, twitter, covering stories that might not have other coverage @alexsilverman #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: hiring: professional presentations important, think about your email address, etc @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: hiring: i&apos;m ok hiring, say, a dj for a news position w/no news experience, based on the tape. presentation is important @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: in hiring: how well put-together is the resume? not nec. experience, but is it neat, organized? then experience, then tape @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: you have to decide if you&apos;re willing to do that small market for a year. might not be within your comfort zone @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: sometimes sucking it up for a year can make a big impact for your career. -katie bell #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: you can get some really interesting stories, even in small markets -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: especially in tv, managers want you to get out there, and sometimes you have to go outside your area -@krich23 #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: but sometimes you do have to be willing to strike out on your own - especially in the TV business @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: it&apos;s probably realistic to find a job in your home area - you&apos;re less likely to leave the area @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: managers&apos; mindsets have changed, now that there are resumes coming in from all over. do i hire distance, or will they leave? @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: senior (student): am i going to be able to find a job close to home? #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: my education became valuable because of the people i met. -@krich23 #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: networking can go far for you, even if not immediately. -@krich23 #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: building your station&apos;s following can go right along with building your own -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: i&apos;ve received other offers, but i&apos;m happy where i am -- but i haven&apos;t had to apply for any jobs since i started in radio @deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: don&apos;t wait for something to be handed to you, find something to improve the station while you&apos;re an intern -@deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: started as an intern day after morning show producer had been fired, then got job at same station @deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: started cold, had never done news when i started in a news position. -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: every job i worked came from knowing someone through a prior job, starting at first station -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: after graduated, there was a news position open at the station i had worked at on breaks - delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: after freshman year at z89, walked into a station and handed a tape to the program director, worked there on breaks. -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: each job i worked at had a connection from a previous job, started as an internship. start at the ground floor. @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: how did you get your job? @jwade: internship #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     thisisjoshua: Heading to the WJPZ Communications Bailout Conference to speak to students. #wjpzcon! about 14 hours ago from Tweetie     joshshear: hearing a funny story or a favorite song on the radio can make someone&apos;s day - great part of working in radio @deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: knowing websites, knowing how online ads work is important in the industry these days. @deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: working with other people is challenging - important to remember some people have certain strengths -@deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: if you&apos;re not in management, it&apos;s challenging hearing no when you need something don&apos;t take it personally -delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: equipment failures are one of the biggest challenges; 9 out of 10 times, there&apos;s a way around it - delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: rewarding moments are when everything works the way it should - we won AP award for elex coverage in 2004 @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     timesecrets: RT @/joshshear time management is the most challenging part of this new radio world -@jwade #wjpzcon http://bit.ly/Mps1r about 14 hours ago from twitterfeed     joshshear: most challenging in a job sense is giving attention to all things that need attention, w/less help @jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: time management is the most challenging part of this new radio world -@jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: doing newscasts in various markets for varying audiences; understanding website audiences across formats - @deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: job started as 100% morning show. 2 years in, 50/50 with web site, now 75% web sites, very little morning show -@deafgeoff #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     LaraBryn: Just spent an hr updating & re-formatting my resume. It&apos;s beautiful. Now listening to a panel at the Communications Conference #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from txt     joshshear: anchors podcasting, running their own boards, updating web sites new duties for radio - matt delsignore #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: reorganizations, lay-offs, reconfiguring of stations and program directors helping out on air all functions of down economy -@jwade #wjpzcon about 14 hours ago from TweetDeck     deafgeoff: About to start the #wjpzcon - excited to hear our panelists talk to the students! about 15 hours ago from txt     MBuchwalter: Running to AT and T with @mikeomo to try and save my phone because he&apos;s a great friend. Then off to the Communications Conference #wjpzcon about 15 hours ago from web     joshshear: wasn&apos;t able to get on AirOrange, but was able to tether, so looks like there will be #wjpzcon tweeting. about 15 hours ago from TweetDeck     mikecouzens: Checking out the program getting ready for the start of #wjpzcon about 15 hours ago from txt     joshshear: First time in Newhouse 3. Locked outside the #wjpzcon room with @jwade about 15 hours ago from UberTwitter     deafgeoff: If you&apos;re going to the #wjpzcon today, make sure you enter Newhouse from the Waverly entrance! about 15 hours ago from txt     mikeomo: Going to the Communications Conference at 11...give me a job!! #wjpzcon about 15 hours ago from UberTwitter     deafgeoff: Talking to SU students and WJPZ&apos;ers at Newhouse from 11-3:30 at the #wjpzcon about 16 hours ago from web     joshshear: tearing down and packing up for #wjpzcon. hopefully they&apos;ll be able to wifi us non-SUers so there can be tweeting during the event! about 16 hours ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: getting the belly ready for #wjpzcon with catfish and eggs. about 18 hours ago from TweetDeck     rsource: looking forward to #WJPZcon conference 1 day ago from web     deafgeoff: WJPZ Communications Bailout Conference tomorrow w/ @ulfoesterle @joshshear @thisisjoshua @ralphieaversa @krich23 & @jwade - follow #wjpzcon! 1 day ago from web     thisisjoshua: Speaking at The Communications Bailout Conference tomorrow w/ @ulfoesterle @joshshear & @deafgeoff. #wjpzcon #syracuse 1 day ago from Tweetie     joshshear: whom do i need to meet at the WJPZ alumni conference at syracuse university tomorrow? #fb #wjpzcon 1 day ago from TweetDeck     joshshear: RT @deafgeoff: Tomorrow is @WJPZAlumni &apos;s Communications Bailout Conference - use hashtag #wjpzcon if you&apos;re going/following/discussing! 1 day ago from TweetDeck     hashtager: # Tomorrow is @WJPZAlumni &apos;s Communications Bailout Conference - use hashtag #wjpzcon if you&apos;re going/following/discussing! 1 day ago from twitterfeed     deafgeoff: Tomorrow is @WJPZAlumni &apos;s Communications Bailout Conference - use hashtag #wjpzcon if you&apos;re going/following/discussing! 1 day ago from web     joshshear: this weekend: 2 plays, #wjpzcon, some web site work, tapping deeper into wave and a social media project. anyone up for brunch? 1 day ago from TweetDeck     auxrecords: Speaking at The Communications Bailout Conference this Saturday. @thisisjoshua @joshshear @deafgeoff will be there. #wjpzcon 4 days ago from web     ulfoesterle: Speaking at The Communications Bailout Conference this Saturday. @thisisjoshua @joshshear @deafgeoff will be there. #wjpzcon 4 days ago from web     deafgeoff: Hey Z89ers and @wjpzalumni if you&apos;re going to the Fall Conference this Sat, we&apos;re going to use the hashtag #wjpzcon - RT it like it&apos;s hot. 4 days ago from web     joshshear: hey, if you&apos;re doing the @wjpzalumni conference saturday, we&apos;re going to use the hashtag #wjpzcon -- please retweet to get it going.

 

Thanks to all our participating alumni:

Ralph Aversa (’07)

Katie Bell (’02)

Joshua Grosvent

Jeff Wade (’97)