More About Jason…
Hi! Here’s a little excerpt from my autobiography…I was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio on June 26, 1977, but lived in Mansfield, Ohio which is located about halfway between Cleveland and Columbus along I-71. (map)
I attended St. Peter’s Catholic School for all twelve years. In grade school, I didn’t do all that much except soccer. I played fullback from 3rd to 6th grades. In high school I got much more active. I started by becoming a manager for the boys basketball team. At the end of my Freshman year I took up the role of Sparticus Spartan – the mascot for St. Peter’s High School. I also got involved in Student Council – Junior Class Vice-President and Student Council Vice President. I also help to create the TV Club – delivering the video announcements over the school’s Channel One system. I graduated in 1995, recognized with the Four-Year Drama Award and The Bishop’s Cross.
Outside of school a chunk of my summers were spent setting up the annual parish festival — I even served as construction chair during my Junior and Senior years of High School. I also was an altar server at St. Peter’s for several years, and even had a paper route for a couple of years.
I started college at Ashland University where I really got going in Radio & Television. I was a DJ at WRDL 88.9 FM a 3,000 watt modern rock station, and was very involved in TV-2, the university’s cable access TV station. While at Ashland I tried everything — from talent to production. Also during my Freshman year at AU, I kept the Mascot thing going by playing the role of “Tuffy The Eagle.” After three semesters I left AU and transferred to Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.
At Mansfield,which is located in the northern mountains of Pennsylvania, (map) I was heavily involved at WNTE-FM, Mansfield’s campus radio station. While there I was chief engineer, and supervised a major equipment upgrade of the main studio.
During the summer of 1998 I worked in commercial radio at WHYT Y-105 WSWR-FM Curisin’ 100.1 and WMAN 1400, in his hometown of Mansfield, Ohio. During the summer of 1999, I was a promotions intern for WKYC-TV 3 in Cleveland, Ohio.
I graduated in December 1999 from Mansfield University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, but before I left I had to get a job. I was hired by WNWO-TV in Toledo, Ohio – the day before walking down the aisle.
At NBC 24 I started as a production assistant where my duties included – camera, Chyron, TD, audio and even some directing. After a year I transferred to engineering and there my duties included – air operator, tape and (my favorite) ENG operator (that’s a live truck to non-newzies)
In March of 2001, I headed across town to the CBS affiliate WTOL-TV. There I was hired as a promotions producer. That means I created promo spots to get you to watch our news – or why our super duper Doppler is better than the one that other station. After two years at WTOL I was ready for a change. I enjoyed working on this Web site and wtol.com, I decided to do it full time.
In August of 2004, Sandy and I decided to move over 1,500 miles across the country to Corpus Christi, Texas. That’s where I was the Internet Content Director for KRISTV.COM, South Texas’ NBC affiliate. Since joining the station, In 2006, I won both a 1st Place award from the Texas AP Broadcasters and a Regional Edward R. Murrow award for the Texas/Oklahoma region. In 2007, I won a second 1st Place award from the Texas AP Broadacasters, but no regional Murrow… Guess you need a hurricane to win one of those.
But in October 2007, I said my goodbyes to KRISTV.COM and Corpus Christi to take on a new challenge as the Interactive Director for LIN Television of Indianapolis. I’m responsible for five Web sites including: WISHTV.COM, MyNDYTV.com, IndyUnivision.com, IndyTube.tv & IndianaPolitics.tv in Indianapolis. It’s the most challenging job I’ve had so far, but I’m loving every minute of it.