Seton Hall University’s student-run WSOU 89.5 FM revamped and expanded its mentoring program this past academic year, and students Nick Durant and Tim Bonomo benefitted from this recently when they were accompanied by WSOU alumnus, mentor, and retired WCBS-FM music director Richard Lorenzo to observe the operations of CBS Radio in New York City. The students sat in with WCBS-AM news anchors Wayne Cabot and Paul Murnane; viewed WCBS-FM midday host Dan Taylor in action; toured the CBS Radio facilities; and spoke with VP of Programming for CBS Radio and Operations Manager for WFAN Mark Chernoff, WCBS-AM PD Tim Scheld, WINS Production and Creative Services Director Dave Plotkin, WCBS-AM news anchor Pat Farnack, and WCBS-FM Assistant PD Dermot O’Neill, among others.
“It was really cool to see the precision of the morning news operations,” said Durant. “Paul Murnane and Wayne Cabot are two amazing anchors. It was an enjoyable and eye-opening experience to watch them do their work flawlessly.” He added, “The ability to have those conversations is not something students normally get to do and it is all thanks to the WSOU Mentoring Program.”
The WSOU Mentoring Program connects current members of the student staff of the award-winning college radio station with station alumni for a year-long mentorship that includes regular one-on-one conversations, events, leadership coaching, career advice, and more.
(Photo: Legendary NYC DJ Ross Brittain (left) took time to discuss the radio business with WSOU-FM staff members and Seton Hall University students Tim Bonomo (2nd from left) and Nick Durant (3rd from left). The students’ visit to CBS Radio New York’s studios was arranged and guided by Richard Lorenzo (far right), a WSOU alumnus and former music director of WCBS-FM.)
