A New York television news producer talked about the challenges of declining advertising revenues and evolving media platforms in a speech on campus Sept. 30.

Jason Goodwin, who graduated from OCCC in 1999, is currently the producer of the nightly newscast for WPIX 11, a CW affiliate in New York City.

For 45 minutes, Goodwin spoke of trends in the media, giving examples of some his workplace is moving toward.

He said WPIX 11 is switching to a “no anchor” format starting Oct. 11, meaning there will mainly be a voice overdub on most news segments with more of a news emphasis during the telecast.

 

Goodwin also spoke of how his station is eliminating most of its news trucks and sending the videotape shot at the scene to the station via the Internet.

In an interview after the speech, he talked about the convergence of social media — with Facebook, Twitter and the Internet becoming the news transmission platforms of the future.

“We have a saying in the newsroom: ‘oh by the way and we do TV as well,’” Goodwin said of having everyone on his staff using different social media platforms.

During his time at OCCC, Goodwin said, he received his best hands-on training and learning experience.

He said colleagues who attended New York University and Columbia University were impressed with the experience and knowledge Goodwin had obtained from OCCC.

Although Goodwin resides in New York City now, he said his journey to New York has twisted and turned, much like the tornados in Oklahoma he covered early in his career.

He said he started as a theater major at OCCC with a passion for acting. Around that time a fellow student suggested that Goodwin take Professor Gwin Faulconer-Lippert’s Audio Production class.

That class led to Goodwin changing his major to journalism and broadcasting.

He was awarded the broadcasting student-of-the-year award in 1999 while at OCCC.

Since graduating with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2001, Goodwin has worked for KWTV Channel 9 in Oklahoma City, with stops in Ft. Smith, Ark., as a reporter for a newspaper.

For two and a half years he worked for KOKH 25 in Oklahoma City, which led to a transfer to one of the largest FOX markets in the country in Tampa, Florida.

Another transfer led him to New York City where he worked as a weekend producer for FOX News.

Faulconer-Lippert said she is not surprised by her former pupil’s success.

“Jason Goodwin became a success because he loves journalism and loves to work,” Faulconer-Lippert said. “He welcomed a new challenge, a new town and was not afraid to pay his dues.

“He understood that you learn from every job you have and that is what it takes to be successful.”

Journalism major Jacob Reynolds said he took a lot away from the speech.

“His speech made me weigh the pros and cons of working as a journalist,” Reynolds said.

“He was constantly moving from place to place with a new job and responsibilities. I don’t know if I could handle that.”

Goodwin had words of advice for students.

“It is really easy to succeed in broadcast journalism if you show up on time, act professional and be kind.”