"It can be a little hectic at times, especially when there’s breaking news, but I love this job," Todd says. "I’m responsible for the structure of each show, from top to bottom."

Todd’s position at WDTN—he started in October—is actually his second professional gig since he earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting in the spring of 2007. Right after graduation, he landed a job producing the morning show on WLFI, the CBS affiliate in Lafayette, Ind.

Todd credits the hands-on experience he gained as an undergrad for his employability. For four years, he was a member of the team at HTV, the university’s student-led news program. He also served two internships—one with WANE-TV in Fort Wayne and another with his current employer, WDTN. Todd found both internships through the university’s Enterprise Resource Center.

"With HTV, I learned the skill sets to be both a producer and a director," Todd says. "A producer creates a road map for a show, while a director is the driver that makes sure that map is followed. With HTV, I also had the opportunity to be in a leadership position early on, and that experience is already paying dividends."

Todd’s first internship came during January Term of his junior year. "During that J-term with WANE-TV, I got my first exposure outside of a college setting to what a television producer does, and I think that fine-tuned my career goals," Todd continues. "My second internship, with WDTN the following summer, was longer, and I learned more about the interworkings of a newsroom and received a lot more feedback on my writing and other skills.

"An internship," Todd continues, "is a must. There’s no way I would have gotten this job at WDTN—or the one in Lafayette—without having the kind of real-world experience an internship provides. Dr. Lance Clark in the Communication Department really emphasized the importance of internships. He said one was absolutely essential, but two would be much better."

While Todd says he still has plenty to learn in his new job, that doesn’t mean he isn’t focused on the future. "My goal is to keep climbing the ladder and eventually work for a top-25 market station. I’d also like to get into management some day and maybe run an entire newsroom or news organization. But right now, I’m loving what I’m doing, and it will be a long time before I get bored with it."