Jason
Allen '98
In the Glare of the Media
Spotlight
When Jason Allen '98 jumped
into a television career as a newscaster, a friend of his mother's asked,
"Why would anyone want to get into such an evil industry?" Her response
was, "Why not?"
In an industry often decried
for questionable morals and lack of integrity, it is easy for the innocent
to be declared guilty by association. Allen, a news anchor for KTWO-TV
in Casper, Wyoming, embraces the opportunity to model a higher standard.
"There's no better place
for Christians to be," claims the communication arts graduate who anchors
daily newscasts at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. for the NBC affiliate. "Being in
the lion's den gives us a great chance to witness to the world. I wish
there were more believers in television news."
The road that Allen took
to the news studio may not have been conventional, but he has no regrets
about the journey. He worked for two years at the Back To God Hour to familiarize
himself with television work before moving to Wyoming, where he met his
wife, Carli.
"I wasn't put off by the
lack of a strict broadcasting program at Trinity," he asserts. "The biggest
value I received from the College is its well-rounded education. Just because
there is no specific program leading to a particular career doesn't mean
that you can't make it in the field of your choice. I wrote for The Courier
and found my niche. Combining that work with what I did at the Back To
God Hour prepared me for television news. Then it was a matter of getting
my résumé and tape into the right hands, and the news director
here was willing to take a chance on me.
"It may take a little extra
work through internships like the Metro (Chicago Semester) program, and
you may not get into your career field as quickly as you want, but the
experience is worth the effort. I wouldn't have done anything differently."
Because mass media such as
television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, and the Internet wield
a powerful influence on social norms, they can redefine and reshape what
is acceptable in mainstream culture. Allen and other Trinity alums bring
a godly presence to the industry, both in the forefront and the background.
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