Young Alum of the Month: Joshua Tigges
November 2024
Name: Joshua Tigges
Hometown: Carroll, IA
Major(s) and Graduation Date: Majored in Digital Media with Minors in Psychology
and Strategic Public Relations. May 2024.
Favorite BVU Class: Advanced Photography.
Job Title & Company: Video Production Specialist, Nebraska Public Media/University of Nebraska.
Major Job/Position Responsibilities: I focus solely on delivering high-quality broadcasts to the Nebraska public. The diversity of productions is one of the best parts of my job because no two days are the same! From broadcasting live in our freshly renovated studio with LED monitor walls to taking the truck on the road and doing remote productions of events, this job always keeps me on my toes when it comes to setting up and preparing for upcoming broadcasts. Since starting this position I have been focusing heavily on camera operations. Whether it's the handheld operator you see running out onto the court or the guy behind the giant box lens you see in venues and at sporting events, I've been gaining experience across a wide array of camera positions. During my short time so far I have had the pleasure of being on crews for some big broadcasts. From high school state championships to Creighton volleyball and basketball, and, of course, a bunch of Nebraska athletic events as well. Nebraska Public Media has a very unique working relationship with the Big Ten Network where we cover a majority of the Nebraska athletic events in Lincoln that are on the Big Ten Network. My favorite experience thus far has undoubtedly been when I worked as a camera operator for the Nebraska vs. Stanford volleyball game, a top 10 matchup on BTN.
What do you like most about your job/position? Apart from the diversity of productions from being in the studio to in the field, the all-around organizational culture of Nebraska Public Media is something I have fallen in love with. It's a culture of support where if you have a desire or a dream, all you have to do is let people know and they will place you on a path to achieve that! At such a green part of my career, this has been so greatly appreciated because I've acted as a sponge to soak up as much knowledge and experience as I can to be able to decipher what direction I want my career to take. Most importantly though, I've discovered how this job put BVU's motto into action. Throughout my collegiate journey, living by Education for Service instilled a mentality in me of looking for something greater, delivering for someone else. Now, working for a public television station, that is exactly what I do on a day-to-day basis. On the side of our production truck it's hard to miss one of our sayings, "Our state, your stories." While being in big venues and at such big sporting events has been incredible, it's this underlying mission that brings the greatest fulfillment. We're not just a station covering an event, we choose what to cover because it matters to the people of Nebraska and we take pride in being able to tell these stories!
What advice would you give to current students at BVU? The biggest piece of advice I can give is to get involved. No matter what discipline you're in, find a way to actively get involved and get some experience under your belt. No matter how small it might be, a little experience goes a long way! After all, books can only teach you so much. It's the application outside of the classroom, on your own time, that allows people to excel! One other thing that, in retrospect, was crucial to my collegiate career was getting in contact with alumni. Whether they recently graduated or have been in the workforce for quite some time, find someone who either has a job you aspire to have or is in your career field and have a conversation with them! From my experiences, BVU alumni are always eager to offer experiences and put you in contact with further people, so use your network!