Signal Boost

Last summer, Shannese Charles '19 won a fellowship from the International Radio and Television Society, which places dozens of students from across the country in an internship with a New York City-based media company, and also sponsors networking and mentoring opportunities. Charles, a Television and Radio major who had helmed WBCR—the student-run radio station—landed at CBS Radio for her internship but also got the opportunity to visit many different media companies like Hulu and Spotify.

What's more, hers was a special fellowship because it was one of 30 sponsored by a media company or executive that agrees to help fund the fellow's stipend and living expenses. The sponsored fellowships are earmarked for students at specific colleges and universities. Scott Herman '80, who'd spent the better part of four decades in the business and retired from his job as the chief operating officer at CBS Radio, had sponsored one for a Brooklyn College student.

Herman—who also endowed the Scott Herman '80 Scholarship in Television and Radio in addition to the IRTS fellowship—and Charles had a lot in common. Prior to an illustrious career that began at 1010 Wins and included many different posts at CBS, Herman had also been president of WBCR when he was a Brooklyn College undergraduate.

The two had actually met prior to the fellowship when both attended a career fair sponsored by the Magner Career Center. Herman reminisced about how much he built up the station while he was there and Charles filled him in on what the job was like in recent times.

"It was instant kinship," says Herman, who started his own consulting firm once he left CBS Radio and now also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn College Foundation. "We had gone through some of the same things. It was easy to mentor her, she was like a sponge, she soaks up everything."

"We had great conversations," says Charles. "Sometimes we would meet up for lunch or coffee and he would help me connect with people at CBS that he knew. I felt so grateful. He made a lot of time for me."

All the networking paid off. Through the connections she made, Charles ended up getting internships at iHeartRadio and with Viacom’s MTV and VH1. The connections she made there helped her to obtain her current position as the integrated marketing executive assistant at Comedy Central, Paramount, and TV Land. Charles assists the executive leadership of the company by scheduling meetings and taking notes while also helping with the production and integrated marketing of the stations’ television shows, helping to brand products within shows, and working with clients.

"Shannese is a role model for other students to follow," says Miguel Macias, an associate professor and the deputy chair for graduate studies in the television and radio department. "What has always impressed me the most about her is her spirit and optimism. Shannese doesn't give up, and works hard towards her goals with a relentless positive attitude that is contagious."

Charles ultimately wants to be an on-air personality for a daytime talk show but she chose to start in marketing and sales "to understand the business side of the industry," she says. "Thanks to a lot of help from the connections I made, I feel like I'm on my way."