“Compare SMA with other broadcasting schools and apprenticeship programs and you’ll notice a difference in value, quality of services, and price”

“How does SMA compare with Internships?”

“How does SMA compare with broadcasting schools?”

“How does SMA compare with regular broadcasting apprenticeship programs?”

“How do your costs compare with broadcasting schools and regular apprenticeships?”

“How does SMA compare with Internships?”

Internships are generally available only to currently enrolled college students. Most TV & Radio stations won’t even allow you to work for free if you’re not getting college credits, due to National Fair Labor Laws and previous lawsuits against broadcasting companies.

Strengths of Internships

• Able to make insider contacts
  
  
• Opportunity to prove yourself to decision makers
  
  
• Exposure to many facets of broadcasting (on-air, production, promotions)
  
  
• Some may be paid positions (rare)

Weaknesses of Internships

• College students only: If you’re not currently enrolled in college, you generally CAN’T do an internship. However, you can do a broadcasting apprenticeship regardless of how old you are, and regardless of where radio stations in the US or Canada are located.
  
  
• Highly competitive: You’re one of 10-20 other interns at a given station, hoping to be hired for whatever jobs open during your stay.
  
  
• Lack of specific job training: You won’t be trained for any specific job in broadcasting, as most interns are really just exchanging free labor for college credits.
  
  
• Few personal references: You’ll have difficulty developing personal references since you’re rarely working one-on-one with anyone or learning specific job skills. Most broadcasters won’t hazard a recommendation on someone’s skills that they really don’t know personally.

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“How does SMA compare to broadcasting schools?”

You’ve heard the saying; “It’s not what you know, but WHO you know?”
Broadcasting is one industry in which having already established contacts inside the business puts you at a major advantage. On the other hand, not having insider contacts creates a disadvantage for outsiders – even in spite of having good broadcasting skills.

By design, broadcasting schools aren’t structured to create these insider contacts, whereas SMA’s apprenticeships are specifically designed to develop these all-important relationships.

Upon completion of training, the broadcasting school student is usually scrambling and looking for ways to get their foot in the door and make job contacts. Conversely, SMA’s apprenticeship students are looking to leverage their already-established relationships into sportscasting jobs.

Broadcasting Schools Strengths

• They do a good job of teaching broadcasting skills
  
  
• Easy to get admitted (if you have the money)
  
  
• Multiple financing options (if you qualify)

Broadcasting Schools Weaknesses

• Hard to create industry contacts
  
  
• Only available in certain cities (usually large cities)
  
  
• Inflexible training schedules (set class times and semesters)
  
  
• Costly (Generally run between $9,000-$14,000)
  
  
• Difficult to transition into real radio or television broadcasting
  
  
• Competitive (usually 15-30 classmates seeking the same jobs as you)

SMA Apprenticeship Strengths

• Hybrid of broadcasting schools and internships
  
  
• Available to people of all ages
  
  
• Training conducted in real radio stations or by real sportscasters (depending upon which training program you choose).
  
  
• Mentors (teachers) are usually local broadcasters
  
  
• Hands-on learning
  
  
• Learn at your own pace (One-on-One training)
  
  
• Easier to make industry contacts (from day 1)
  
  
• Huge Job placement advantage (you’re already in the station...with contacts)

SMA Weaknesses

• Can work against students if they don’t take training seriously
  
  
• Only offered in U.S. and Canada
  
  
• Finite mentor pool in each market (harder to get accepted)

The bottom line comparison... apprenticeships START you on the inside of the business, while broadcasting schools start you on the outside, and leave it to you to figure out how to become known by those doing the hiring.

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“How does SMA compare with regular broadcasting apprenticeship programs?”

To the best of our knowledge, as of this writing, SMA is the only sportscasting- centered apprenticeship or school available. Other mentorship programs typically offer a chapter of their curriculum on sportscasting as a part of their overall training. SMA focuses primarily on developing studio hosting, play-by-play, and anchoring skills in sports broadcasting.

Through SMA, you’ll actually be hosting your own show or calling games, while the other mentorship programs will just teach you about the need to acquire those necessary skills.

SMA is also the only program available that will instruct you on how to secure the broadcasting rights to local sporting events. In essence, we’ll guide you through the process of creating your own revenue-producing sportscasting job, while gaining valuable broadcasting experience at the same time.

Lastly, SMA’s job placement services are second to none. Our students benefit from the increased exposure provided by having their demo tapes and resumes listed, FREE of charge, on three different sportscasting job boards. Simply put, by increasing your exposure and visibility, we make it easier for program directors that are hiring to find you when job openings occur.

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“How does SMA’s cost compare with broadcasting schools and regular apprenticeships?”

Equally important to cost is the value and quality of services that SMA offers over any other broadcasting school or apprenticeship program. Given that, SMA’s sports broadcasting apprenticeships are still $4000-$8000 less expensive than the average broadcasting school, and are competitively priced with other apprenticeship programs – yet we clearly offer more services and a better value for your hard-earned dollar. We can afford to charge less because you’re not paying for the cost of running a facility, or the salary and health benefits for a large faculty.

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