Column: Leading a student media staff

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Welcome to the weekly WMCO Program Director update!

I decided I wanted to be more transparent this semester with you as I am with my staff. In doing so, I’ll share what I can to give those wondering what goes on in a media organization an insider look.

To start this off, no personal information will be given. I feel like that’s obvious but should be stated at least once.

So student program director, seems like a big deal, right? It absolutely is. Orbit Media has two program directors. One student leads WMCO and one student leads video. I serve as the one for WMCO and Robbi Moore serves as one for Orbit TV (video).

My weekly job entails making sure the organization runs as smoothly as possible. This includes facilitating substitutions, doing a weekly radio show, checking in on staff, doing weekly listening, as well as other duties.

My favorite part of serving is being able to communicate with the whole staff. From professors, our management staff, and our DJs. We do recruitment and also do community events. These events reassure me what we’re doing is important.

We’ve teamed up in the past with food banks, the American Red Cross, United Way, and other organizations.

So that’s a little background on what I do and what Orbit Media/WMCO does, here’s what I’m up to this week…

As you may have heard on air this week, the coronavirus is affecting our staff just like a lot of the U.S. right now. The main focus for myself this week has been aimed towards keeping DJs on air and healthy.

Our cleaning protocols have been strictly enforced as we’ve seen a couple of DJs be placed into quarantine.  I hate seeing that happen but I want our staff to stay as healthy as possible.

I’ve been working alongside our Orbit Media Sports Director, Will Ford, as we prepare for the spring semester. We are continuing with The Muskie Sports Blast (weeknights at 8 p.m.) and we’re looking into other ways to entertain.

Obviously with OAC protocols, we’re learning to be innovative but our goal is to give the best coverage of Muskingum Athletics our campus can look forward to.

Our WMCO Music Department headed by Devon Fortune has been hard at work keeping the sound of The Orbit going. We have Kings of Leon, Gorrilaz, as well as other station favorites in rotation right now.

I’m highly appreciative of the support our listeners give and I’m looking forward to my last semester on campus. I’m not sure what the spring will hold but I’m looking forward to the ride!

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Muskingum Baseball hires new assistant

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Muskingum University Head Baseball Coach Gregg Thompson hired Matt Blevins as an assistant coach and new recruiting coordinator for the baseball program.

Before coming to Muskingum, Blevins spent the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as an assistant coach at Norfolk State University, helping with hitters, baserunners, and outfielders.

Matt Blevins is a new assistant coach for Muskingum Baseball under Head Coach Gregg Thompson. Blevins coached at Norfolk State University before arriving in New Concord.

Blevins also spent time working with hitters, baserunners, and catchers for two seasons at Coppin State University before coaching NSU, where the team set program records for wins both years. Coppin State led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in hitting and rostered the batting champion both seasons. The school had its first All-American and received votes for the first time in program history in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 30 poll with Blevins on the coaching staff. Additionally, 12 Eagles players earned All-MEAC honors, and one earned MEAC Rookie of the Year.

Blevins’ coaching tenure began at Bluefield State College, where he was an assistant for five seasons. He led 17 players to all-conference awards and recruited the first player to sign a Major League Baseball (MLB) contract in the school’s history.

Blevins served as the head coach for the West Virginia Wild in the Carolina-Virginia Summer Collegiate League from 2009 to 2012. With the Wild, the team was the league-leader in hitting two times and had three players drafted to the MLB. The 2011 team featured the CVSCL Player of the Year and had 15 players selected for the all-star team.

Blevins graduated from Bluefield State with a Bachelor’s degree in education, where he played baseball for three years as a third baseman and pitcher. He played his freshman season at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. Blevins earned a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University in 2009 and a Juris Doctor from the Charlotte School of Law in 2017.

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