Feature
Spotlight on
Griffin Communications
By Jesse Phillips
Griffin Communications
A growing collaboration with Griffin Communications has led to big opportunities for Gaylord students and paved the way for a new journalism and broadcast initiative for the college.
When Gaylord students covered the teacher walkout in the spring of 2018, News 9 provided a platform dedicated to covering student-produced Facebook Live content.
“We had been working on the idea of producing ‘Unfiltered’ content when the teacher walkout began,” said John Schmeltzer, journalism professor at Gaylord College. “We quickly became the largest news organization in the state providing real-time coverage from the state capitol and Griffin was there to feature the work of our students on News 9 and News 6.”
“Unfiltered” became a platform for Gaylord journalism and broadcast students to share their content on Griffin Communications’ website, digital outlets and even television.
The teacher walkout coverage with Griffin Communications transitioned into what is now known as Gaylord News, a Washington-based news bureau Gaylord was charged to create after the success of the “Unfiltered” project.
“This experience makes it real for the students; they are covering real stories for real companies,” said Schmeltzer.
In its first semester, three student reporters produced 24 story packages and appeared in 25 media outlets across the state.
“Gaylord News in Washington is good for us, and good for journalism in the state,” said Todd Spessard, vice president of content at Griffin Communications. “This partnership is two different institutions that have the same goal and realize that we can help each other out, and that benefits our industry and the students.”
Spessard shared that the partnership between Gaylord and Griffin not only serves as a recruitment tool and helps them identify talent early-on, it also helps build relationships and allows Griffin to share the benefits of being a local, family-owned media company.
“Our industry has changed and continues to change greatly. It is fun to see the passion for the business and for journalism in the students we work with,” said Spessard. “It is really rewarding to see the passion that these kids have for our industry – they truly see it as a calling, not just a 9-to-5 job.”
Griffin used content from Gaylord grad Storme Jones during their time in Washington, which led to Jones joining News 9 upon graduation. This is the first time a Gaylord graduate has started as a reporter at a major local station straight out of school.
“As a student, interning at News 9 was great. All of the reporters, anchors and producers were so approachable and willing to spend extra time with me to lend me their knowledge. There is such a depth of experience and people have spent their entire careers in Oklahoma City, there is no one else I would have wanted to learn from.”
– Storme Jones
“When you work with Griffin, you aren’t working with some distant corporate office,” said Jones. “They put me on air as a senior in college because I had a relationship with them. I’m not sure that would have been possible at any other station or with any other company."
Gaylord News and Griffin Communications are changing the way the college is training future journalists and have positioned the college as a trusted, quality news outlet both locally and nationally.
“The sky is the limit in terms of the relationship and collaboration we can have, and it enhances and broadens the real-life education of the students, while at the same time, helping us with what we do every day, now and in the future,” said Spessard.
