Meet Alexa Lazerow. She’s a senior at TU majoring in Mass Communications on the Journalism and New Media track while also minoring in Electronic Media and Film. Alexa landed her spot as this week’s campus celebrity because not only is she actively involved in every Mass Communications organization on campus but she is the President of the National Broadcast Society.
Her Campus Towson: How did the Towson chapter of the National Broadcast Society (NBS) start?
Alexa Lazerow: Before I came to Towson, years and years ago, NBS was here. It dissolved, I’m guessing because maybe the president graduated or people just weren’t involved. My freshman year I came and the president, at the time, started it up again. But she was a senior, very busy with her sorority and other things. Since second semester my freshman year, basically I’ve been extremely inolved the group.
HC: What are your responsibilities as president?
AL: Actually, it’s kind of funny. I always tell people that there are so many things that a president has to do that people don’t realize. First off, I’m the one with Dr. Turner, our faculty adviser, who plans all the events, brings guest speakers etc., and with that, it’s a lot of sending emails, getting the group on board, posting on Facebook. It’s a lot of little things. Also, I make fliers for all of the events so it takes time to make a flier that represents our group well and hang it up everywhere. For all of the events, I also send the information to all of the Mass Comm and EMF professors to try and get the word out as much as possible. As far as duties, it’s everything from, welcoming guests as they come here, speaking before they speak, making fliers, sending out emails. It’s a lot of little things but they’re all great things.
HC: What is the main objective of NBS?
AL: Well, NBS is a very, very specific group. It’s a narrowly focused group specifically for broadcasting, radio, or TV. I would say the objective is to get students involved in the industry, meet people that are in the industry, go to events and learn more about what we’re going into.
HC: What are some events NBS has participated in previously?
AL: We have had so many events since I’ve been president. … from a broadcasting standpoint, we’ve brought Gerry Sandusky, who is the voice of the Ravens and Sports Director at WBAL; Tim Tooten, a who’s also a reporter for WBAL, he does the educational beat; Steve Davis, from 105.7 The Fan, that’s a huge sports talk show; Jui Chakravorty, she works for Reuters which a top media outlet in the entire world. Someone from House of Cards came last year.
HC: Are there any upcoming events?
AL: Yes, there are some upcoming events. We’re going to have speakers again and also go on station tours. As for speakers, Gerry Sandusky could come again. It would have to be after football season, I talked to him last night about it at the station because I intern there. I am having the program director from WBAL come and speak to my programming class, which will be an NBS event. There will be a bunch of other guest speakers.
HC: What are your goals for NBS in the future?
AL: One of my main goals is for NBS to live on. I have literally put my heart and soul into this group. I always tell people that NBS is my baby at Towson because the other groups were established and NBS really wasn’t. I think that people know about the group because of me and how hard I’ve worked to promote it and get students to be involved. That’s probably my main goal, to have it live on, because NBS is not only just a student group, it’s an industry group and that’s what people don’t realize. It’s more than just showing up to events; it’s getting involved in the industry. And that’s why NBS is the best group because this is more than Towson, this is industry wide.
HC: What have you enjoyed the most thus far?
AL: When Steve Davis came and spoke to us last semester, he was just so motivational and everything he said really hit home. That fact that broadcasting and TV is not for the light-hearted; this is an industry that takes your blood, sweat, and tears. Something that he said to the group was, “You have to be willing to give up your weekends, and give up going out, and give up your Saturday nights. There is a clear line of people who will do that and won’t do that.” That’s been one of my favorite things. I love all the guest speakers.
HC: How can someone get involved?
AL: Well, getting involved is very easy because I’m a very approachable person. We table at all of the school wide events, which is great. We were at the both the Mass Comm Welcome Back party and the EMF kick off. Since those already passed, all of the professors have information. Dr. Turner is a great person to go to. I have people who email me and Facebook me every single day of the week asking me to join NBS which is the best thing ever. I don’t mind, I love it that people Facebook me about it. I think it’s awesome. Getting involved is really easy, Facebook me, email me, call me. If you have class with me, come up to me; that always happens. And then you just go from there. Fill out a form online and pay dues.
If you’re interested in joining the National Broadcast Society, email Alexa at alazer1@students.towson.edu or join the Facebook group: National Broadcasting Society – Towson University.