Cronkite hosts top national graduates for NABEF Media Sales Institute

Top college graduates from across the country are training at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication this week as part of an intensive media sales boot camp through the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation.

The Media Sales Institute is an 11-day residential seminar designed to expose recent graduates to the necessary skills to launch media sales careers. Fifteen graduates from 11 universities are participating in the June 5-16 event, receiving in-depth training from experts in media research, customer needs analysis and developing integrated media campaigns, among other topics.

“The Media Sales Institute continues to identify and prepare future sales leaders to launch their careers,” said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. “ASU is a valued partner in this initiative, assisting the next generation of multi-platform sales professionals in taking their place in the ever-changing communications ecosystem.”

The program selects participants on a competitive basis, bringing graduates of diverse backgrounds to the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus for training at the Cronkite School in radio, television, cable, print, digital and internet sales.

Fellows receive admission to the institute, including housing, transportation and meals at no cost, and the opportunity for one-on-one interviews with national and regional media companies. Major media companies represented at the institute this year include Scripps, Meredith Corporation, Cox Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group, among more than a dozen attending.

ASU is one of only three institutions in the nation to host this annual event, alongside Florida A&M University and Howard University. This is the third year the program is being held at the Cronkite School. The Media Sales Institute is supported by TEGNA Foundation and Patrick Communications.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to connect some of the country’s outstanding graduates with top media companies, and to see the list of participating companies continuing to grow,” said Cronkite Assistant Dean Mark Lodato, who leads the institute. “The development and networking experiences offer participants a real edge in landing media sales jobs and provide our media partners top-tier talent for recruiting.”

NABEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reinforcing the future of broadcasting through a commitment to education and to advancing excellence in the diversity and community service efforts in the industry. The NAB is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 17,000 free, local radio and television stations and broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts.