2008 Woodie Awards
Graduate makes waves on air
Chelsea Brown
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: Lifestyles
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After being denied several times by various news television stations, Rothenbach recently stepped into a producing role at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg.
She said she grew up watching reporters on ESPN's SportsCenter broadcasts and decided she wanted to do what they did.
As a former member of the women's soccer team, a career in sports journalism seemed to be a perfect fit for her.
After she graduated, however, she ended up interning in New York with MTV.
"It taught me a lot about myself," Rothenbach said,
Though the internship was not paid, she said she received first-hand experience working with the media. She lived in the city and worked from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. After she finished her shift at MTV, she would work in a restaurant until 2 a.m.
While at MTV, she promoted shows for the station and participated in commercials.
She said these experiences gave her a chance to network and meet new people - something she considers to be very important for anyone pursing a career in journalism.
"Be on your best behavior -you never know who could help you," Rothenbach said. Part of the network she has established consists of the mass communication professors she had while studying on campus.
"The Mass Communication Department was friendly, and they had a studio and news program," Rothenbach said.
She also gained experience outside the classroom as president of the Student Media Association, a member of the Student Athletic Advisory committee and anchor for the student-produced television show "Patriots on Air."
Dave Sacash, assistant professor of mass communication, helped Rothenbach prepare for a job in journalism after she graduated.
Together, the two worked on résumé tapes to send to news stations.
"She was very good, wasn't afraid to work long hours, very professional," Sacash said.
Although she sent hundreds of tapes to prospective employers, Rothenbach received very little feedback. A large majority of the stations wanted an employee with more experience, she said.
Pursuing a career in journalism can be difficult, and the work hours generally are atypical to the standard eight-hour work day, she said.
Though she was discouraged, she didn't give up. She moved back to her home state of Maryland and worked part time marketing for the Baltimore Orioles and as a personal trainer.
Later in the summer, she applied for a job at WSPA-TV. After her interview, she headed back to Maryland and found out she was hired.
Through her experiences, paid and unpaid, Rothenbach slowly cultivated her skills, which helped her stand out from other candidates competing for the same position.
"Get involved," Rothenbach said. "People and employers want to see something different."
Her contract in Spartanburg lasts for three years. Never content to settle, Rothenbach hopes to work in front of the camera one day.
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