2008 Woodie Awards
Local professor makes big impression with Disney-ABC
Aimee Reyes
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Features
At an International Radio and Television Society conference in 2005, Yvonne Prather, Communication professor, asked Robert Mendes, senior vice president of Diversity Disney, if they had a program geared toward retaining students interested in the entertainment industry.
He said they didn't, but if she put a proposal together, the company would look at it. "It was mind blowing," Prather said. "There I was, expected to propose a program to Disney"
Prather's proposal to ABC/Disney was a program that would assist in the creation of a talent pool, and would also provide faculty members with current information about network and studio operations. The goal of the program was to attract and retain future students and create quality media professionals.
On Aug. 13, 2007, Prather's dream became a reality. Hosted in Burbank, California, the conference, called "Anatomy of An Idea," lasted three days and gave faculty the opportunity to meet network executives and representatives from shows.
"It was red carpet all the way," Prather said. "There were faculty from all over the country, and I got to meet serious, progressive individuals who make it all work."
Members were also taken to visit sites not open to the public. "We got to see what they have for the future, and the means by which they operate," Prather said. "I was in awe of what they could do."
Prather's conference received high praise from network executives and it is planned again for next year. Although Prather is no longer involved with the conference, she is proud to know that her idea sparked such a big reaction.
"My dream came true," she said, "and I was able to achieve it. It was simply a vision, and I believed in it so much, it came to fruition."
Rasheda Abdullah, a graduate student at APSU, was in California at the same time interning at ABC. She received the internship after attending a talent scout meeting Prather organized in 2006.
Abdullah spent over two months working with the media relations department for General Hospital in California, doing publicity work and press releases.
"It was the best summer of my life," Abdullah said. "Although I had no money while I was there, I didn't care, I wanted to be there."
Since it was an unpaid internship, Abdullah had to get a second job, but she holds no regrets about it. "It opened doors for me," she said, "and showed what takes place in a real industry."
Abdullah suggests that others looking for internships find one that makes them happy. "Figure out what you want to do and go for it," she said.
"If you don't like it you'll be miserable. Start out months in advance and when you see an opportunity, just go for it."
He said they didn't, but if she put a proposal together, the company would look at it. "It was mind blowing," Prather said. "There I was, expected to propose a program to Disney"
Prather's proposal to ABC/Disney was a program that would assist in the creation of a talent pool, and would also provide faculty members with current information about network and studio operations. The goal of the program was to attract and retain future students and create quality media professionals.
On Aug. 13, 2007, Prather's dream became a reality. Hosted in Burbank, California, the conference, called "Anatomy of An Idea," lasted three days and gave faculty the opportunity to meet network executives and representatives from shows.
"It was red carpet all the way," Prather said. "There were faculty from all over the country, and I got to meet serious, progressive individuals who make it all work."
Members were also taken to visit sites not open to the public. "We got to see what they have for the future, and the means by which they operate," Prather said. "I was in awe of what they could do."
Prather's conference received high praise from network executives and it is planned again for next year. Although Prather is no longer involved with the conference, she is proud to know that her idea sparked such a big reaction.
"My dream came true," she said, "and I was able to achieve it. It was simply a vision, and I believed in it so much, it came to fruition."
Rasheda Abdullah, a graduate student at APSU, was in California at the same time interning at ABC. She received the internship after attending a talent scout meeting Prather organized in 2006.
Abdullah spent over two months working with the media relations department for General Hospital in California, doing publicity work and press releases.
"It was the best summer of my life," Abdullah said. "Although I had no money while I was there, I didn't care, I wanted to be there."
Since it was an unpaid internship, Abdullah had to get a second job, but she holds no regrets about it. "It opened doors for me," she said, "and showed what takes place in a real industry."
Abdullah suggests that others looking for internships find one that makes them happy. "Figure out what you want to do and go for it," she said.
"If you don't like it you'll be miserable. Start out months in advance and when you see an opportunity, just go for it."
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