10 Questions with ... James Dillon

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I currently just graduated in December from Kent State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. I am interested in both radio and television. I am interested in anything involving sports. My past job was at a radio station in Alliance, OH as a part-time sports producer for Friday night football games. I handled the commercial log, made sure mic levels were good, and made sure the football game that night went on-air. I communicated back at the studio while we were putting the game on-air. We used both Skype and Google hangout. I was also a radio intern at KRMA in Kent, OH. I was a co-host of a sports show and helped the run board for the show and took calls.

1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?

I know that nothing is given, and that you have to work hard for what you want in this business. You have to be willing to put in the time and make sure you work your hardest to get to the top. I work and strive hard to meet everyone I come in contact with in the business to try and network with. A lot of this business is meeting people because you just never know if that person could be used as a reference someday.

2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?

Listening to Sports Talk radio and hearing how it is different on every station. I like to listen to how the different stations vary from different parts of the country. ESPN Radio is something that I have listened to since I was a kid. I really enjoy ESPN/Cleveland ... they are so diverse.

3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?

Yes, I would love to get my foot in the door with radio, but television is an option someday that I would like to explore as well. I would just like to get started with radio and then see where that takes my career from there.

4) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?

Just asking around and talking to people in the business already and seeing what they did to get started. I realize that I am fresh out of college and many businesses don't want kids. They'd rather have people who have already been around the block, but I know I just have to get my foot in the door someplace and get started. I am anxious to see what the future holds.

5) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?

I hope I can land something that has to do with Sports radio or a Talk show ... just something that I can get my foot in the door with. I know I can't be too picky because I am still new to the industry, so anything that will show me more of the ropes of radio and what else goes on would be great.

6) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

I definitely used to listen to more radio when I was younger and in the car more, but now that Internet radio is becoming a thing, I listen to it on and off. Although I love listening to music, I do want to listen to more radio, but I feel I do listen to a good amount ... just not as much as I used to.

7) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Although I am young, I worked with one of the biggest sports name around Ohio. Sam Bourquin was a great role model for me to work with when I was with WDJQ. He was the play-by-play guy for the football games I set-up and he has been around the radio business for many years. He has his own show in Akron, OH that I listen to frequently, as he gives the local sports and national sports news and interviews many names in the sports world.

8) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?

I am a people person, I love to communicate with others. I like to interact with others and see what they have to offer. I enjoy meeting new people and having the opportunity to show them what I can bring to the table at the age of 22. I learned that some people are there to help you and others do not care about your success in the least bit.

9) If you were offered a similar position to what you were doing for considerably less money, would you seriously consider taking the job just to stay in the biz?

I just want to get my foot in the door someplace with the ability to move up. I want to get my career started off on the right foot and not wait around till the last minute to keep looking for a job. I am a person who likes to go after things and not let them come to me. In this job you have to be aggressive for what you want.

10) Where do you see yourself in five years ... or 10 years?

I hope to be working in either radio or television; something with sports is the dream. I don't mind being behind the mic or behind the scenes. Both are important to making the production the best it can possibly be.

Seen any great movies lately?

Mr. Church was the last film that I watched, featuring Eddie Murphy, and it was a great movie with a great meaning behind it.