Recently, the sports broadcasting team Fast Break underwent a supervisor turnover when former Keene State College employee and contracted mentor for the broadcast team, Eugene [Gino] Vallante, was fired by the college.
Since the position called for an individual to oversee the work of paid students and interns within the company Fast Break, which holds a separate contract with the college, Sports Information Director, Abraham Osheyack, has been selected to fill the position.
“At about 80 to 90 percent of colleges, the sports information director supervises the broadcasts. We were fortunate enough to have someone who was separate to relieve those duties, but now we are with the majority of the colleges having the sports information director take over the broadcasting,” Athletic Director, John Ratliff, said.
Osheyack did not have these responsibilities when he was first hired at KSC during the month of January. Osheyack had just finished putting together a broadcasting program at Smith College, where he previously worked.
“At Smith College, we instituted a full-scale broadcast for all home indoor athletic events, like basketball, swimming and diving. Then with the addition of the internet, we started covering outdoor events like soccer and field hockey,” Osheyack said.
Osheyack’s experience as a journalism major when he attended KSC and his experience in broadcasting from Smith College led him to receive the job on such short notice. Not only was Osheyack’s experience a key part in this smooth transition, but students of the broadcast team expressed they have stepped up and have taken on extra responsibilities.
Photo Illustration by Brian Cantore / Photo Editor: A piece of sound equipment used in the Sports Information broadcast that Osheyack supervises is photographed above.
“We’re lucky to have guys who are really into sports broadcasting. They’ve really done a great job of covering sports and doing extra work that they might not have had to do had this whole situation not happened,” Osheyack said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with them so far.”
And so far, the team members say they have enjoyed working with him. “He respected what Gino [Vallante] already had going and he’s handling everything really well. Even though me and another broadcaster had to show him how to use our computer program, easy stream, he learned quickly,” Scott [Mike] Miezejeski, a KSC freshman, said. At this moment it has not been decided if Osheyack will return as supervisor next year.
He said he does have some ideas to spice up the broadcasts, like incorporating social media, having better on-screen graphics and recorded interviews with coaches and athletes.
“Right now, we just play music at halftime and these are things that can be played at halftimes and between innings, really improving the overall production value,” Osheyack said. Ratliff said he thinks this will be the best investment and improvement that can be made to the broadcasts.
“We’re looking at buying HD cameras, but there’s also a convertor box — and although there is an expense associated there, this is something that everyone in the department, coaches, staff, players and even the Little East schools believe that this is a priority, because this is what gets the face of Keene State out there,” Ratliff said. Since the supervisor switch happened so suddenly, Osheyack said he is glad it happened around the time of spring break.
“It gives us some time to catch our breath and formulate a solid plan for the spring,” Osheyack said. “Broadcasting is a great blend of co-curricular and academic units together to supply an experience for students that will be a real plus for them down the road,” Ratliff said.
Kendall Pope can be contacted at kpope@keene-equinox.com
