MATTHEW ZIMMER
SPORTS, NEWS, WASHINGTON STATE GRAD
Relevant Coursework
ComJour 150
Intro to Broadcast Equipment
The instructor had each student work with all different aspects of a television studio. We worked with teleprompter, cameras (zoom, focus, exposure, etc.), lights (dimming, set-up, etc.), some switcher/board work.
ComJour 210
Multimedia Content Creation
Worked with Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and Audition from Adobe. I became proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator. I am efficient in Premiere and Audition.
Com 295
Writing in Communication
The instructor pushed students with writing print and broadcast style in a quick, pressure environment. Any mistakes with facts or spelling resulted in an automatic F on an assignment. I never received an F on an assignment.
ComJour 335
Broadcast News Reporting
The instructor pushed students with broadcast writing and production. I produced (wrote and edited) five packages that included stand-ups, voice-overs, interviews and B-Roll. I also stacked one show for broadcast. With that work, I attended the Murrow News 8 during the week to write stories for the evening broadcast. Worked with DSLR & Sony NX30 cameras and equipment.
ComJour 390
Video for the Web
The instructor pushed documentary film-making. I learned how to let my subjects tell the story without needing voice-overs to help tell the story. I also furthered my work and efficiency in Premiere.
ComJour 425
Reporting of Public Affairs
The instructor focused the class on local issues. I wrote five stories in print style focused on local issues or individuals. I also covered the city government beat, looking for stories and finding other sources that also thought my ideas were newsworthy.
ComJour 433
Advanced Radio News &
Production
The instructor pushed the same urgency as Com 295. I wrote at least one story a class. We covered different beats throughout the semester including Pullman Police, Pullman Fire, WSU police, WSU sports, etc. I attended city council, ASWSU, and Pullman School Board meetings. I wrote and voiced 6 stories including a two man on the street stories.
ComJour 475
Murrow News Service
Similar to 425, except I am producing print and video stories for publication. During Spring 2015, I will write around (6) stories. The stories are the focus about how I write and what topics I think are newsworthy. The goal of the class is to get students published.
ComJour 495
Communication Professional
Internship
I worked at Pullman Radio KQQQ as a News Reporter over the summer. I covered meetings in Moscow and Pullman including city councils, school board, planning commission, historical preservation commission, Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee and more. I also covered breaking news including fires. I wrote, voiced, and published stories and packages. I recorded news updates that ran at the top and bottom of the hour between 2-5 p.m. Finally, I produced the Morning News five times before February 2015.
ComStrat 475
Strategic Comm. Seminar:
Sport Journalism
In Spring 2015, WSU introduced its first sport journalism class. I cover the Men’s Basketball team and the Baseball team at WSU. I will write previews, post-game stories and conduct interviews with athletes and coaches, and attend press conferences.
SPMGT 290
Sport Programs
Took a look at different elements to sport including, tickets, local events with parks and recreation, and a big semester long group project, (see Samples of work). The class focused on working in a group for a common interest for an event that we would plan but not have to put on.
SPMGT 374
Sport Finance
The instructor focused on the financial background and advertising of events. I became efficient in Excel, learning how to use formulas and other shortcuts in the software. I estimated out ideas for a sport team’s budget using real information (like plane ticket sales, room prices, rental car, food, etc.).