Clark Atlanta University today announced a strategic partnership with Entercom, home to the nation’s most influential collection of podcasts, digital and broadcast audio content, and premium live events and experiences, to provide students a unique and unprecedented opportunity to gain access to one of the nation’s leading media and entertainment companies. The partnership will expose students to top representatives in programming, sales, administration, and on-air talent, among others. Additionally, it will create a pipeline for future job opportunities.
The initiative launches with a private, virtual event for students on Wednesday, September 30 at 7 pm EDT. Attendees include: Clark Atlanta University President George T. French and Entercom Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer David Field.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our scholars,” said George T. French Jr., Ph.D., president of Clark Atlanta University. “Partnerships with media conglomerates such as Entercom are a continuation of Clark Atlanta University’s Mass Media Arts Department’s legacy and dedication to ensuring our students are prepared and globally competitive in the communications industry.”
Mass Media Arts (MMA), the second largest department in the School of Arts & Sciences, offers degree programs in Radio/Television/Film, Journalism and Public Relations with graduates excelling in many industries and professions. One of the department’s key goals is to provide students with a learning environment that merges scholarly content with real-world opportunities. This relationship with Entercom is another pathway to the school accomplishing this objective.
“I am a huge advocate of students learning inside and outside of the classroom,” said Garry Yates, interim chair of Clark Atlanta University Mass Media Arts. “We are committed to preparing our students to excel, whether they choose to be academicians or practitioners. We’re ecstatic to establish this channel that will give them coveted access to such a media powerhouse like Entercom.”
The collaborative relationship situates perfectly with Entercom’s focus to nurture the next generation of diverse talent into the future of audio. Entercom managers/personnel from various departments will volunteer to serve as guest speakers in classes and at virtual events to share real-world experiences designed to prepare students in their career pursuits and aid Entercom in identifying high-potential candidates for future internships and employment.
“This partnership with Clark Atlanta University builds on our focus to create a more inclusive and diverse team and workplace,” said Rick Caffey, senior vice president and market manager for Entercom Atlanta. “We’re excited to share our resources and insights in the form of real-world learning, beginning with this first virtual event on the future of audio.”
About Clark Atlanta University
Established in 1988 by the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is one of the Nation’s foremost research institutions, offering students from around the United States and several foreign countries the opportunity to engage in 38 exciting areas of study at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Located in the historic heart of Atlanta, one of the world’s great international cities, CAU’s nearly 4,000 students enjoy access to academic and co-curricular experiences, from forensic debate, to on-air broadcasting, to cancer research with world-renowned investigators. Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson; American civil rights activist, poet and song writer, (Lift Every Voice and Sing “The Black National Anthem”; Ralph David Abernathy Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award winning Broadway Director and Jacque Reid, Emmy Award winning Television Personality and Journalist. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.
About Entercom Communications Corp.
Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE: ETM), home to the nation’s most influential collection of podcasts, digital and broadcast content, and premium live events and experiences, engages over 170 million consumers each month. With presence in every major U.S. market, and accessible on every device, Entercom delivers the industry’s most compelling live and on-demand content and experiences from voices and influencers its communities trust and love. The company’s robust portfolio of assets and integrated solutions offer advertisers today’s most engaged audiences through targeted reach, brand amplification and local activation—all at national scale. Entercom is the unrivaled leader in local radio sports and news and the #1 creator of live, original local audio content in the U.S. Learn more at www.entercom.com, Facebook and Twitter (@Entercom).
