It was the late great Satchel Paige who once said, "Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines." For Jeremiah Johnson a veteran of the television sports business this quote has to be fitting for the man who fought his way to the top. His speech to our class shows that the business of sports broadcasting can sometimes be a question of how bad you want it, aside from talent and contacts. For Johnson, one can only admire the girt and determination he possessed upon graduating from Ball State. With no job lined up specifically Johnson had to crank out numerous resumes, demo tapes, and e-mails to finally land his first job in Hazard, Kentucky. "I was ready to just take a sports photography job before I got that job offer" echoed Johnson. The proof was tangible to the class Johnson provided student with his own; numerous rejection letters,rejection e-mails;and tvjobs.com listings for open positions. Some of the scribbles on the rejection letters or open listings seemed like art in my mind. In pencil and in jagged letters it would read, "call back KGET" "make a contact with Linda at WISE". The scribbles were so relatable to my struggles before I landed my first job at KERO ABC 23 in Bakersfield.

On top of Johnsons humility by showing us his array of rejection letters from his first job, Johnson took it one step further he brought in his first resume tape that he sent to stations. This was a brilliant tool to send an important message to many underclassmen in the classroom (and even some upperclassmen). That message was one that showed imperfection, a can do attitude, and the ability to grow into a sleek on air personality. I looked a Jeremiah a little differently after seeing his first resume tape. Again, I found myself relating with him, I had always seen Jeremiah as a clean cut, structured sports broadcaster. However like Jeremiah was at one time, I too am a blob of clay waiting to be molded, shaped, and made into a rigid on-air personality. I really felt like all the factors of familiarity (i.e. he went to Ball State, he was an out-going Greek member at Ball State, and we was an alumnus of TCOM 381) really helped me understand where he was coming from and where he was going.

I also found that Johnson reinforced something that I have been told time and time again in the television sports broadcasting business. Johnson was able to get his job in Indianapolis because he had a goal and went for it. He was smart enough to know that if he worked in Terra Haute he should try and develop story ideas that brought him to Indianapolis. What that allows a reporter to do is become a familiar face in the market, as well as make contacts with current members of the media in Indianapolis. Having a goal or a destination spot allows one to become focused on a task and gives a reporter motivation and drive. With that Johnson said he kept an open connection line via e-mail with Dave Calabro sports director at WTHR 13 in Indianapolis. This allowed Johnson to become up to speed on the latest job openings in the market as well as bounce tape ideas off of Calabro to see what he needed to improve on.,

For Jeremiah Johnson his girt and determination were an excellent class teaching tool one that I believe will transcend into many students in the class room.