NBC. MTV. CBS. Fox News. The Late Show with David Letterman.

These are just a sampling of the places that HAM Channel alumni go; and they almost always point to their experience in the HAM Channel as the springboard for making into these dream jobs.

Here are some of our HAM Channel Alumni:

Teresa Priolo

News Reporter/Crime Reporter – CBS 6 Albany, NY

In 2005, Teresa Priolo was in the lower level of the Barone Campus Center on the Fairfield campus covering the FUSA election with the HAM Channel.

Now in 2009, she’s a reporter for CBS 6 News.

Teresa Priolo joined the CBS 6 News team in December 2007, as the area’s only TV news reporter focused on crime.

Although a “Jersey Girl” through and through, Teresa has spent most of her winter weekends taking to the slopes at Jiminy Peak.

Teresa got her big break in the business right out of college. The only problem, she had to pack up and move to Idaho Falls, Idaho!

Never one to pass up a good road trip, Teresa accepted a job at KIDK/Channel 3 as an Reporter/Anchor.

There, she focused most of her reporting on crime in the region, as well as extensively covering the Eastern Idaho courts.

Her investigations into the problem of teen homelessness called “Throwaways” and the popular but deadly “Choking Game”, earned her awards from the Idaho Press Club and acknowledgement from the Society of Professional Journalists.

She also played a large role in KIDK’s coverage of the Larry Craig bathroom sex scandal. But perhaps her favorite story at KIDK was revisiting the intrigue surrounding Utah resident, Melvin Dummar, and the mysterious “Mormon Will”.

Prior to KIDK, Teresa worked at WFSB/Channel 3 Eyewitness News in Hartford, Connecticut.

She graduated from Fairfield University with a Major in Communications and a double minor in Political Science and Television.

Sonia Baghdady

News Anchor – News Channel 8, CT

Sonia Baghdady is an Emmy-award winning anchor for News Channel 8′s weekday morning and Noon shows, “Good Morning Connecticut” and “News Channel 8 at Noon.”

Sonia Baghdady is an Emmy award-winning anchor for WTNH’s weekday morning and Noon shows, “Good Morning Connecticut” and “News Channel 8 at Noon” as well as a new show “Connecticut Style.”

Before WTNH, Sonia anchored and reported the news for the NBC affiliate in Springfield, Mass., and on Long Island, NY for a News 12 affiliate.

Sonia has earned an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Soft News Series” and an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Service Report.”

She was also nominated in 2008 for an Emmy award for “Outstanding Achievement” as an anchor.

Sonia received Associated Press Awards for her coverage of the stabbing death of a Springfield, Massachusetts teacher and for hosting a voter forum on the 2000 Presidential Debate, while at the NBC station there.

The New Haven Business times recently listed Sonia as one of “20 Noteworthy Women” in the community. She has also been voted best local TV reporter in the state by the readers of “Connecticut Magazine” and as one of the top local TV personalities by the New Haven Advocate.

Chris Miles

Sports Anchor – News7 Roanoke, VA

WDBJ7 announced the addition of Chris Miles as News7 Sports reporter and weekend sports anchor.   Miles worked at nearby WVVA in Bluefield, West Virginia before moving to the Columbus Sports Network in Columbus, Ohio.

“Chris has great energy, enthusiasm and fits right in here at News7,” said news director Amy Morris.

“He understands our strong tradition of covering local athletes and teams, from his career at WVVA when he worked alongside Travis Wells, Grant Kittelson and former News7 sports director Mike Stevens.”

“Chris has an infectious personality that I know will allow him to connect with the people in our viewing area. He was selected from a deep candidate pool, and I couldn’t be happier with his addition to the sports department at WDBJ” said sports director Travis Wells.

Miles worked in radio and television while attending Fairfield University in Connecticut. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in English.

What Chris says about the HAM Channel:
“I would not be able to enjoy my life as a sports anchor/reporter had it not been for my days at the HAM Channel. I got a late start as a junior when a friend of mine was taking a communication class and said he was looking for a host on a show he was producing called ‘Crunchtime.’ After a few months hosting it, I realized I had found something I truly enjoyed. Before the HAM Channel, I was a student looking for a career. After the HAM Channel and my work at the media center, I became a professional.

Bobby Morales

Sports Reporter

Bobby Morales used to host “At The Buzzer” on the HAM Channel. It was a sports program focusing on all-things sports.

Post graduation, he spent two years as a Radio Play-By-Play/Color Commentator for the Bridgeport Bluefish (Atlantic League).

What he says about the HAM Channel:

“Fellow Ham Channel alum Chris Miles (’03) introduced me to the media center and student run television station.  Immediately I felt at home.  I was given the opportunity to jump right in and get the type of experience that you have to wait years to obtain at huge schools.  Plain and simple, without my experiences at the media center, I wouldn’t have made it this far, or have a quarter of the knowledge I posses.  The Ham Channel lays foundation for achievement.”

Kevin Tracy

What he’s doing:

A 2005 graduate of Fairfield, Kevin Tracy used to be the executive producer of the HAM Channel.

Now, he works at Fox News on “The Strategy Room” as an Assistant Producer and Production Assistant. Kevin is even now featured on the show, reporting from the 2009 Comic Con in New York City.

Prior to that, he was a production assistant for “Geroldo at Large” also at Fox News.

What he says about the HAM Channel:
“The HAM Channel gave me the ability to explore all aspects of television production. It was a constant learning experience that helped me break into the business and get me a core position on a major weekend news program. In addition, HAM allowed me to find friends who I know will be with me forever. These friends will all someday grow into contacts and connections that will further help develop my career.”

Pat Camden

What he’s doing:

2001-2007
Producer: WWE

2007-present
Producer: Late Show with David Letterman

What he says about the HAM Channel:
“The HAM Channel basically changed the course of my life, introducing me to the amazing work of TV production. THe lessons I learned there were invaluable and they have elevated me to the farthest reaches of the broadcast realm. My work has graced the screens of basic cable, pay-per-view, movie theaters, broadcast television and more…and I owe it all to the funny little cartoon pig.

Rory Duyon

Rory is working in NH for a sports radio station. He is also a sideline reporter for the Fairfield Stags Women’s basketball games.

Prior to that, he was the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations and the play-by-play announcer for the Connecticut Defenders (the San Francisco Giants AA affiliate).

While still in the HAM Channel, Rory had an internship with NBC sports and got to work in Torino Italy for the winter olympics.

What he says about the HAM Channel:
“The HAM Channel gave me hands-on experience that I don’t believe I could have gotten anywhere else. They believe that you learn by doing, and thanks to that philosophy, I was comfortable in-front of and behind a camera before I was done with my freshman year. The staff and the equipment are top notch and if you’re willing to work, they will help you go far.”

Leslie estelle and Kristen Coleman

2006
Documentarians for coast-to-coast run for cancer survivorship center

2007
Established their own production company: Blue Cardinal Media, LCC

What they say about the HAM Channel:
” The HAM Channel was a great chance to bring together who you are with what you learn. From freshman year we were able to participate in all areas of production and figure out exactly what we wanted to focus on.

It was also a great opportunity to learn how to work with others and collaborate on ideas – something that has proved really useful while starting our own company. There’s also that thrill of pointing at the screen and getting to say, ‘I made that,’ a feeling which never gets old.”

Meg Malinowski

2007
Page – Late Show with David Letterman

2007-present
Page Supervisor – Late Show with David Letterman

What she says about the channel:
“The HAM Channel not only taught me all of the technical aspects of the media world, but allowed me to develop creatively. I was able to participate in any facet of media that interested me and helped me to figure out what I wanted to pursue after graduation. My experiences at HAM Channel prepared me for both the real work and my career.

Justin Craig

2004-2007
Producer, Writer, Editor: Mazzarella Brothers Productions

2007-present
Web Video Producer: FOX News

What he says about the HAM Channel:
“The HAM Channel gave me the opportunity to be diverse and dabble in writing, editing, producing, directing and being on-screen. Those experiences have put me at the top of my game in my field. Too many people in this business are limited to one area of expertise and the HAM Channel has broken that wall for me.”

Other Alumni in TV, Radio, Film & Other Media

Fairfield Alumni in TV, radio, film, and other media

Jeanne Begley
Producer/Director, AE’s Biography, Emmy Award winner

Joe DeCamara
Co-Host, Kruk and DeCamara Show, Sports Talk 950; Executive Producer, Jody Mac Show

Patricia E. Hutton
Executive Vice President & CFO, NBC Universal Studios

Burt Kearns
Founder, Frozen Television/Frozen Pictures, Author, Tabloid Baby, Producer, A Current Affair

Robert J. Murphy, Jr.
Senior Vice President, TV News Coverage, ABC

Donna Savarese
News Anchor, News 4 St. Louis, KMOV, Emmy Award & Edward R. Murrow Award winner

Cory Shields
Executive Vice President, Communications, NBC Universal; former reporter, producer & host, PM Magazine

Carmen Wong Ulrich
Host, CNBC’s On the Money

Bill Watson
News Anchor/Reporter, WBZ Newsradio 1030