VISIT US ON THE WEB WWW.IONA.EDU Department of Mass Communication Phone: (914) 633-2229 Email: [email protected]Search: Iona Mass Comm @ICMassComm Search: Iona College - Department of Mass Communication Alumni Editor: Sarah M. Ryck Alumni Newsletter Mass Communication While at Iona, Tim Cashman ’08 BA understood that you get out of your college career what you put into it. Today he enjoys the benefits of getting involved, networking and taking advantage of Iona’s resourc- es, as he progresses with his active, successful TV career. Cashman grew up on and around Iona’s campus since his mother, Liz English, works in the admissions office. Attending Iona was a natural step for him because the college had a special place in his heart. He also saw the “benefit” in the college’s proximity to New York City as he pursued a TV career. “I thought it was to my benefit being so close to Manhattan, thus giving me an opportunity to go to school and still pursue my goal of ‘making it’ in the TV world,” he said. Not long after Cashman became a Gael, he sought out his first internship. In 2005, he applied and got an internship at MTV. The position allowed him to work side by side with the executive producer of the MTV Video Music Awards. Thanks to this initial internship, Cashman traveled with the VMA’s to Miami, FL, as a production assistant (PA) for three weeks for the 2005 and 2006 shows. Having impressed those at MTV, he built a lasting relationship which would pay off later on in his career. “MTV would call me throughout the next few years to PA on various shows they had in studio,” he explained. How a Basketball Game Led to Grad’s Big Break Cashman at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve show in Times Square.
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Inside This Issue:
How a Basketball GameLed to Grad’s Big Break 1
Colleen Rooney Tells How She Turned Internships to Jobs 3
Search: Iona College - Department of Mass Communication Alumni
Editor:Sarah M. Ryck
Alumni NewsletterFall 2011
Mass Communication
While at Iona, Tim Cashman ’08 BA understood that you get out of your college career what you put into it. Today he enjoys the benefits of getting involved, networking and taking advantage of Iona’s resourc-es, as he progresses with his active, successful TV career.
Cashman grew up on and around Iona’s campus since his mother, Liz English, works in the admissions office. Attending Iona was a natural
step for him because the college had a special place in his heart. He also saw the “benefit” in the college’s proximity to New York City as he pursued a TV career.
“I thought it was to my benefit being so close to Manhattan, thus giving me an opportunity to go to school and still pursue my goal of ‘making it’ in the TV world,” he said.
Not long after Cashman became a Gael, he sought out his first internship. In 2005, he applied and got an internship at MTV. The position allowed him to work side by side with the executive producer of the MTV Video Music Awards.
Thanks to this initial internship, Cashman traveled with the VMA’s to Miami, FL, as a production assistant (PA) for three weeks for the 2005 and 2006 shows. Having impressed those at MTV, he built a lasting relationship which would pay off later on in his career.
“MTV would call me throughout the next few years to PA on various shows they had in studio,” he explained.
How a Basketball Game Led to Grad’s Big Break
Cashman at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve show in Times Square.
Fall 2011 Page 2
Cashman continued to network, sometimes in the most unlikeliest of situations.
“While I was still at Iona, I went down to Washington DC to meet some friends,” he said. “While I was there, I was introduced to a guy who worked for Dick Clark Productions. He called me about six months after we met, offering me a position as a PA on the Dick Clark New Year’s Eve show. I’ve been working on this show for the past five years.”
Cashman didn’t know that attending an Iona basketball game his senior year would eventually lead to his next career break. At the game Cashman started a conversation with a TV producer covering the game. His new acquaintance asked if he
“ You never know where you will find your next job. It could be a DC
bar or an Iona College basketball game. Keep in touch with people and make sure everyone knows you will work as hard as needed to get the job
done.”-Tim Cashman ’08BA
would be interested in interviewing for a production assistant on a new Travel Channel show “Ghost Adventures.”
After working a year with “Ghost Adventures,” Cashman was offered the associate producer position on “Ghost Stories,” a Travel Channel spin-off. For the next two years, he worked on both “Ghost Adventures” and “Ghost Stories” as associate producer.
As Cashman’s time with paranormal TV shows came to an
end, he was once again contacted by the MTV producers he began his career with.
His former colleagues wanted him to be the associate producer on a new live TV show pilot for Bravo. His career continued moving forward as the same group of colleagues joined Cashman to produce reunion shows for VH1, Bravo
and MTV.
After gaining experience in live TV, Cashman decided to move to Los Angeles. He was soon offered the talent coordinator position for the 2011 Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, in Las Vegas to work on the six-hour live show. Cashman is now working as associate producer on “Operation Osmin” on NuvoTV. Thanks to
his hard work and networking, the Iona alumnus is also developing his own projects.
In addition to his recent work for the MDA Telethon and “Operation Osmin,” Cashman produced two original short films, one being for the Ripfest Film Project in Manhattan, and the other for FunnyorDie.com, which were very well received.
Continued from Page 1
Cashman poses with guests of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve including Miss America and Julianne
Hough.
Cashman framing a shot on shoot. Filming a show on a frozen beach in New Jersey.
Fall 2011 Page 3
Colleen Rooney ’10BA has been working with MTV Scratch for about a year as a production assistant. She credited her past internship experience with landing her the job.
“I am very lucky to be doing what I want to do in New York City and work with awesome people everyday,” Rooney said. “Thanks to Iona, I created a solid stepping stone to help lead me in a right career path.”
As a student, Rooney held a number of impressive production internships including “WABC-Live! With Regis and Kelly,” ABC’s “The View” and MTVN-VH1 Original Music Production.
When Rooney interviewed at MTV Scratch for an executive assistant position after graduation, the interviewers were impressed with her production experience. They decided to keep her resume for a project that would better utilize her experience. Within a couple months, Rooney got a call asking if she would interview for a production assistant job. Four different people on the MTV Scratch team agreed
“Thanks to Iona, I created a solid stepping stone to help
lead me in a right career path.”
she was right for the job.
Rooney works with MTV Scratch to tap into the power of MTV’s unparalleled youth connection for brands seeking fresh approaches. Rooney and the team provide a range of capabilities, including consumer insights, product development, design and branding. The team is now focusing on Sun Drop Soda, under Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group. Thanks to the team, Sun Drop, which was originally just regionally produced and distributed, has garnered national attention and a strong, growing fan base.
After the Sun Drop girl “dropped it” in her dance routine in the popular TV commercial, the team developed a social media campaign. The team found people went to various social media platforms to discuss the unconventional commercial. Twitter and Facebook were abuzz with Sun Drop conversations. Viewers were soon even recreating the popular commercial and uploading their own videos.
This fall Rooney and the MTV Scratch team are deciding what is in store for Sun Drop in 2012.
Yuri Yasuda ’04MA graduated with a master’s degree in journalism with a concentration in online and print journalism. Since then, Yasuada has worked as the director of editorial strategy
with Harlequin K.K. at the Japanese office of Harlequin Enterprises Limited,
Colleen Rooney Tells How She Turned Internships to Jobs
Finding Passion in Romancea Toronto-based publisher of romance novels.
“Romance was an unknown genre for me,” Yasuada said. “It has a unique readership. Once the readers find the world of romance, they are likely to become addicted.”
Yasuada works closely on development and presentation of overall publishing strategy with top management. She is also responsible for managing the editorial department,
giving profitability reviews, and negotiating with rights agencies.
Although Yasuada works more in the publishing field rather journalism, she finds her experience at Iona helped her with being able to adapt to different situations. In particular, the writing skills she developed as a graduate student have assisted her in writing pitches and better conveying ideas in presentations.
Colleen Rooney ’10BA
Yuri Yasuda ’04MA
Weeks after graduating in December, 2010, Sara Kennedy ’10BA took her first mission trip to Les Cayes, Haiti, where almost ten years ago her mother opened HELO, Inc., an orphanage. Kennedy spent the holidays visiting five different communities, and found herself falling in love with the children her mother helped for a decade.
Kennedy saw an opportunity to use the skills she learned as an Iona, public relations major to help HELO. She became active in HELO’s social media efforts by exploring different partnerships with companies that were willing to help the orphanage with donation of money and supplies for a well and filter system. Kennedy also helped to update account books, strategize fundraising and publicity efforts.
Unfortunately HELO suffered the loss of a great friend, supporter and partner that affected the organization and Kennedy.
“My self-esteem was very low from losing what I thought would have turned into a great opportunity, and my heart was broken,” she said.
To get themselves back on track, Kennedy and her mother decided to return to the orphanage to refocus and heal.
“I spent one of the best weeks of my life with HELO’s fifty-one children,” Kennedy explained. “I like to call them my little brothers and sisters.”
Kennedy also works full-time for AxiCom PR as a public relations assistant. Her day-to-day responsibilities include compiling media lists; writing media briefings, press releases, PR plans and proposals; tracking media; compiling recaps for clients; and writing the weekly internal newsletter.
Because of the strong bonds and close relationships she developed with her little brothers and sisters at the orphanage, Kennedy continues dedicate her time to HELO’s PR, social media and fundraising efforts.
For more information on HELO Inc., visit www.HeloHaiti.org
Using PR Skills to Help Haiti’s Orphans
Counter clockwise: Sara Kennedy ’10BA, Children of HELO Inc. in Haiti, and Kennedy posing with HELO Inc. on her second mother-daughter mission trip.
