January 9, 2025 • 26 mins
How does one transition from a budding business student to a pivotal player in the world of broadcast journalism? Gary Bender shares his compelling journey, revealing how a struggle with mathematics redirected his path towards a thriving career behind the scenes in sports reporting. Gain insights into the evolution of his role from an aspiration in front of the camera to mastering the art of coordination at the assignment desk for giants like CNN and ESPN. Gary's story reminds us that while discouragement is inevitable, finding your true calling can lead to unexpected and rewarding paths.
Join us as we explore the adrenaline-fueled world of sports broadcasting through Gary's experiences. From breaking major news events to managing the logistical puzzle of production crews, Gary offers a captivating narrative filled with lessons on integrity and balance. Discover the intricacies of staffing sports events, where each show is a unique tapestry requiring both skill and intuition. With valuable advice for PR professionals and reflections on the balance between professional and family life, Gary provides a treasure trove of insights for anyone navigating the demanding yet rewarding world of media production.
Thank you for listening! Please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to the Media in Minutes podcast here or anywhere you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-in-minutes/id1555710662
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Angela Tuell (00:05):
Welcome to Media in Minutes.
This is your host, Angela Tuell.
This podcast features in-depthinterviews with those who report
on the world around us.
They share everything fromtheir favorite stories to what
happened behind the lens andgive us a glimpse into their
world From our studio here atCommunications Redefined.
This is Media in Minutes.
In today's episode, we aretalking with Gary Bender.
(00:32):
Gary started his career as alocal news assignment editor in
Washington DC.
During his decades-longbroadcast career, he has also
worked for CNN, comcast Sportsand ESPN.
Currently, he is crewingmanager for Program Productions,
north America's largestindependent production crew,
where he manages production oflive sports events.
(00:55):
Hi, gary.
Gary Bender (00:57):
Hello, how are you?
Angela Tuell (00:58):
Great, I am so happy to have you on our podcast
today.
Gary Bender (01:03):
Glad to be here.
Angela Tuell (01:05):
For those of you who don't know, Gary and I go
way back to the University ofMaryland, where we were in
journalism together and havebeen friends for more years than
I should mention so as not toage us right.
Yeah, please don't.
So how are things in Maryland?
Gary Bender (01:22):
Things are good, weather's bad, but everything
else is good.
Angela Tuell (01:25):
Yeah, that's the winter for you, right?
You never know if it's going tobe rain or snow or sun.
I'd love to start this is goingto be really interesting today,
because you've been inbroadcast for almost your whole
career but I'd like to startwith you walking us through your
early career and how you becameinterested in journalism in the
(01:45):
first place, which I'm not surethat I even know or remember.
Gary Bender (01:49):
Yeah, so you know, I was at college and I went to
college at Maryland thinking Iwas going to do business.
Right, my dad was anentrepreneur all his life.
My older brother was atMaryland in the business school
at the time and I figured thatwas like the natural thing to do
.
And you know, when it came downto it, I don't do math well, so
.
So that wasn't working out forme, um, and I just tried to
(02:11):
think about what else there wasand I wouldn't look at the
English department and I'm likenope, not me.
And then I went to thecommunications department at
Maryland and that was like more,I guess, pr, um, and that that
again just wasn't like what Iwas looking for from the
journalism school.
Realized you had to take a testto get into the journalism
(02:32):
school.
Yeah, like to transfer in um,which I had to take three.
I had to take it a third timeand like beg and plead to make
that happen, um, and then I gotin um it is hard to get into the
to the journalism school there.
Yeah, yeah and you would thinkit'd be easier if you're already
at the at maryland and thentransfer in, but it's not yeah
(02:53):
so and honestly it was.
It was one of those thingswhere I looked back like growing
up, like what I liked to do,and one thing I did growing up
was I would print out sportsscores on from the computer and
pretend I was doing a sportscast and pretend I was George
Michael right back to be aGeorge Michael sports machine
(03:14):
back in the day, and I bet Iwould sit there and pretend I
was the anchor and that's sortof kind of where the connections
were made.
And then, you know, I got intojournalism school and I actually
got an internship at the GeorgeMichael Sports Machine my
junior year of college, yes,which you weren't supposed to at
the time, and it was great andI, you know, I met people there
(03:36):
that I still talk to to this dayand that was just logging games
.
But you're then in an editbooth with George Michael and it
was great and you got to seeyour highlights on TV.
And then you got to sit next toJim Vance and Dorian Gensler,
you know, doing a fake sportscast in the studio and it's like
(03:57):
this is awesome.
And then, you know, as schoolwent along, the summer before
senior year, I got an internship.
I actually originally wassupposed to do a radio
internship, which I found on myown, which our intern advisor at
the time, sue, told me shewould never give me credit for
(04:18):
that.
She handed me a post-it notewith the name and a phone number
and it was a friend of mine,now a friend of mine who worked
at Fox 5 in DC.
I was two weeks late for theinternship and I begged and
pleaded for human resources tomake it happen and I did so.
If you notice a pattern, I'malways like behind the game.
Angela Tuell (04:40):
Somehow you've been successful still, I know I
know.
Gary Bender (04:43):
So I interned the summer of 2001.
During the internship, the EPat the time said I'm going to
make sure you get a job here.
And I got hired two weeksbefore 9-11.
Yeah, and then 9-11 happenedand I spent my entire senior
year of college workingovernight weekends.
Angela Tuell (05:05):
Yes, I remember that.
Gary Bender (05:06):
That's how you know most people are doing other
things.
Their senior year of collegeand I'm working.
But that's kind of where itstarted and you know, sort of
the passion for the journalismside of it came in and I turned
out.
I did not want to be ontelevision my first day as an
intern.
I actually was told by areporter there that I don't have
the look.
Angela Tuell (05:27):
I don't remember that.
What yeah?
Gary Bender (05:30):
I won't name names.
But he said you'll never be ontelevision.
You'll never be on TV, youdon't have the look.
So I sort of found my niche atthe assignment desk, and then I
stayed there for seven years.
Angela Tuell (05:47):
Yes, you know, as you mentioned the assignment
desk that was at Fox in DC, weactually haven't had someone
that was an assignment editor onthe show yet.
So for those who are not veryfamiliar with that role, tell us
a little bit about it and whatyou also did for CNN, Comcast
and ESPN.
Gary Bender (06:06):
Yep, so in local news.
So the assignment is the nervecenter right.
Local news.
You're listening to policescanners, you're fielding phone
calls, you're working with theproducers and then the camera
ops and the reporters.
You're doing the logistics.
You're touching base basicallyhourly with local police
(06:28):
departments and, as you know, inDC there are many different
police jurisdictions.
We have a four page list of ourrounds, so to speak.
Where you had to call, you'rebasically cold calling police
departments.
Anything going on, you know,you're asking them, you're
trying to fish.
Every now and then you'd getsomething.
But you also get to know peopleand that's a lot of what that
(06:52):
was.
But you are the central commandof the entire operation.
If a producer wants a piece ofvideo, if the producer wants a
live shot, if the producer wantsa remote live shot from, if the
producer wants a live shot, ifthe producer wants a remote live
shot from another network,you're it.
They're going to the assignmentdesk for everything.
Yes, and then at CNN it was alittle different because it was
(07:14):
on a national level.
So basically I was then workingwith assignment desks at local
stations around the country.
When I was there I did a lot ofthe Northeast, so Boston,
buffalo, new York, uh,pittsburgh, philly, like so I
would.
That was sort of my region.
Um, and it was a lot of youknow again touching base, what,
(07:36):
what stories are you guysworking on today?
Yeah.
Like the next light, the nextlevel up, basically.
And then I moved back home,home, Comcast Sportsnet, where
again you're sort of in thelocal environment.
This time it's sports.
Angela Tuell (07:50):
Right Were you happy to go back to sports.
Did you like that even more?
Gary Bender (07:56):
There are times where I wish I gave CNN more of
a chance.
I was only there a little overa year.
I moved home to get married andit was a move that got me to
where I am today, because if Ididn't make that move I wouldn't
be here and had the next job Idid at ESPN.
But part of me wishes I stayedin CNN longer but, that's fine.
(08:23):
So then again, comcast Sportsnetwas again.
You know the, the, the locallevel, but this time it's sports
and you're working with thedifferent teams, um, and
colleges, um, and then againthat was my jumping point to go
to Bristol, connecticut.
Yeah.
Um, and I was only at ComcastSportsnet like a year and a half
and then I was at ESPN forseven years and that was sort of
(08:48):
back to the sort of what it wasat CNN, where you're working
with the local stations aroundthe country, and for me I was
running the NFL team on theassignment desk, so it was
getting practice video,post-game sound, and then it was
also setting up live shots forSunday NFL countdown.
So I think the theme of all ofit is it's a lot of logistics
(09:12):
and it's a lot of dealing withpeople.
Angela Tuell (09:15):
Yes, and a lot of stress.
You have to be good at handlinga million things at once, and
that's not for everyone.
Gary Bender (09:21):
No, it's not I mean and stress, but at the same
time organized, yes.
So one example I can give whenI was at ESPN was I remember Cam
Newton got in a car accidentjust outside the Panther Stadium
in Carolina.
Well, my local news instinctskick in and I'm calling the
police department, I'm callingthe fire department, I'm calling
the hospital.
It's just those things sort oftrigger and come back hospital.
(09:48):
It's just those things sort oftrigger and come back.
But yeah, it's a lot ofpatience and a lot of you know
you have to be confident inyourself too, because if you
don't know what you're talkingabout or you don't make sense,
then the person on the otherside isn't gonna help you.
Angela Tuell (10:00):
Yes, yes, and be able, like you said, to build
those relationships and to beable to talk to anyone, and
those are all things that ajournalist developed.
You know that you developedthrough being a journalist.
What did you most enjoy aboutbeing an assignment editor and
what about least?
Gary Bender (10:17):
I enjoyed the hustle and bustle.
I enjoyed that every day wasdifferent.
You never knew what you weregoing to walk into.
You know, unfortunately therewere days where it was death and
destruction.
There were days where it was,you know, Super Bowls.
You just never knew what wasgoing to happen.
I saw a lot when I was at Fox 5.
You know, I was there forshuttle explosion.
(10:38):
I was there for, I remember, ifyou remember, the AP alerts on
the computer made it like therewas like a bell, if it was a red
alert yes.
Right and a Saturday morning atlike 730, that thing started
blaring and it said RonaldReagan passed away.
Yeah, I called my news director.
(10:58):
She said I don't believe it,you need to confirm it and I
love her to death.
Catherine Green is one of thegreatest managers, bosses,
anybody could ever have.
I called the LAPD and theyconfirmed it.
But you know you learn a lotworking with people like that
and even now it's like sometimesyou just got to do it yourself.
(11:22):
You got to make the phone callyou got to.
You know you have to hear itfor yourself.
You can't just believe.
Even if it's the AP setting onAP alert, sometimes you just got
to make sure.
Yes, yes.
So the least was you know,nights, weekends, holidays.
(11:42):
You know, at Fox five I made adeal with my buddy who he were.
I would work Christmas if hewould work Thanksgiving and it
worked like that for seven yearsAt ESPN I was in charge of the
NFL.
Nfl was on Sundays.
I'm working every Sunday.
You're working.
You could be working a 6 amshift.
(12:05):
You could be working a 3 tomidnight shift.
That was the downside of it wasthe hours and the family side
of it was tough.
But there was nothing like therush you get in those breaking
news moments that made it worthit.
Angela Tuell (12:24):
That's exciting.
Yeah, I do have to ask on theassignment desk, did you work
with PR professionals often, orwhat was your?
What's your advice for those?
Gary Bender (12:34):
My advice is just be patient.
You never know when you'recalled, especially a local
newsroom First of all, a lot oflocal newsrooms.
These days, the personanswering the phone is the
assignment editor, the producerand the anchor at the same time.
Yes.
And you don't, especially ifyou're not from that area or
live in that area and you don'tknow what's going on.
(12:54):
You don't know, especially ifyou're not from that area or
live in that area and you don'tknow what's going on.
You don't know what's going on.
They could be dealing with afire, they could be dealing with
a murder, they could be dealing.
You're like, you just don'tknow.
So when you're the PR personand they're like I don't have
time for you right now, click,don't be offended because they
just might not have time for itright now.
Angela Tuell (13:15):
Yeah, and don't call me back.
Gary Bender (13:17):
Yeah, and luckily now you guys, pr professionals,
can email.
Yes, when I was in local news,email was just sort of beginning
and it wasn't really a thingRight.
Angela Tuell (13:28):
Wait, that's aging us too, I know, I know.
Gary Bender (13:30):
Right, we had fax machines back then.
I know Right, we had faxmachines back then.
But honestly I would just say,either do a little homework
before you make those phonecalls and you know, hey, is
anything happening in Baltimore,maryland today?
I mean every day in Baltimore,but but like you know, it's
(13:51):
something out of the ordinary,right?
And again you just again areyou calling during their
newscast?
Not the best time to call.
Right.
You know, and if you're aregular in the market, you'll
learn and maybe you'll you know,need to learn, when their
editorial meetings happen,because if you're calling during
their meeting, you're notgetting a good answer from
(14:11):
anybody Right, and an interncould be answering that phone
call.
So do a little bit of homeworkbefore making that phone call.
Angela Tuell (14:22):
Yes, that's all great advice we must also talk
about after being an assignmentdesk for all of those stations
for a short time, you leftbroadcast journalism and went
into communications for acorporate company.
How was that experience andwhat made you go back into
broadcasting?
Gary Bender (14:39):
So I left ESPN, moved back to Maryland.
It was a family decision to becloser to family and also
Central Connecticut's not thebest place to be, especially if
you're not from that area.
So I you know, know, I wasfreelancing a little bit at like
ABC and then I got a full-timejob at a company in Baltimore.
(15:01):
Um, I was doing like website,um content creation, and I
taught myself how to do graphicdesign.
I taught myself how to makepodcasts.
It was different.
It's a whole different world.
It was also part of, like,their human resources department
(15:22):
.
Angela Tuell (15:23):
Oh, that's strange .
I mean, I haven't seencommunications under that.
Really, it.
Gary Bender (15:28):
Yes, that's how they were it was, it was not as
exciting.
Yes.
So then I randomly jokinglytexted a former coworker of mine
who I knew was working at thiscompany called Program
Productions and I said hey, isyour company hiring?
(15:50):
She said send me your resume.
Three or four days later I'mgetting phone calls, emails,
setting up interviews.
Then I got this job and I youknow I wouldn't want any other
job right now.
Like you know, you sit there ata place like ESPN and you're
like I wonder if the grass isgreener.
Yeah.
You know you wonder that Lookingfrom this side now, the grass
(16:14):
is as green as I could everimagine.
Yeah, and it's great to be backin the sports side of it.
A lot of what I learned on theassignment desk translated as
far as the organization, thepatients talking to people I
mean, I talk to people every day, Right?
Angela Tuell (16:33):
Yeah, tell us more about Program Productions for
those who are not familiar.
What you do, sure.
Gary Bender (16:37):
So Program Productions we are the largest
live event staffing company inthe country.
We crew the production trucksfor all the networks that do
live sports NHL, nba, mlb andsome NFL, mainly preseason.
(16:59):
But we hire the cameraoperators, the audio techs, the
video, everybody below the line,so to speak, like the
production will send theirdirector and their producer, and
then we're hiring everybodyelse on the local level.
And you know, for me, you knowit's on the surface, it's
(17:22):
basically just it's putting apuzzle together.
Every show is a puzzle andevery show has needs and names
fit into this puzzle.
So I have, you know, my cameraguys fit into the camera needs
of the client.
But then you learn that it'snot just a camera operator, it's
what camera operator and who.
(17:43):
And you know you.
You you learn who the peopleare and you get to know them and
you talk to them.
And it's been an interestingevolution just over my last, my
two and a half years from.
I have a grid, I have to fillit to.
I have a grid, I have to fillit.
I have to make sure it's theright fit.
Angela Tuell (18:02):
Yeah, you told me that you crewed 350 jobs in 2023
and will crew close to 400 thisyear.
How do you manage that much?
I mean, besides theorganization, it, it, it must be
the assignment editorbackground, but it is it, it, it
?
Gary Bender (18:19):
you know it is organization.
I work ahead.
So, sitting here right now,it's December 11th and my entire
2025 baseball visiting teamcrews are set Wow.
But that way I can focus on theother things that come up.
So I personally do all thevisiting shows in DC and
(18:44):
Baltimore.
So Caps, wizards, nationals,orioles I do all the visiting
teams.
So you know every show isdifferent Every.
Okay, it's not.
(19:07):
I can't just put a person in aposition.
I have to know who that personis.
So, on top of everything else,it's also, you know, I can go
play golf with the cameraoperators.
I'm, I hire Maryland studentsfor replay operator and camera
(19:34):
operator.
What they're doing on thecollege level right now is
unbelievable.
With Big Ten, network Plus andall these other streaming
platforms, they're they'reproducing every sporting event
on campus.
Yeah.
Right, it's amazing.
And then most of those jobswill translate into you know
these jobs.
Angela Tuell (19:54):
Right.
What were you surprised tolearn about when getting into
sports production?
Um?
Gary Bender (20:03):
I think for me the biggest thing was just learning
what everybody does.
Yeah.
Right, a lot, yeah, right a lotof a lot of terms are thrown out
there v1, v2, a1, a2, bug, op,parabop, evs, lead, evs, ro.
It's just learning all thesethings.
And then some companies callthem different than others.
And I mean I ran into asituation where I had a client
(20:26):
from canada who their name foryou, I forget what it is, but
they don't use the term utility.
They haven't.
I forget what the term is, butit's different and I have to
figure.
You know, I'm like, okay, whatis this?
Um, so it's just, it was justfiguring out what everybody does
.
Yeah, um, and again, being ableto go on site and get into the
truck and just talk to peopleand see what they do, you kind
(20:51):
of figure out.
Okay, here's the difference inwhat the V, the V1, which is the
main video op, and the V2,which is the second video op,
what, what the difference is.
And then, who can do those jobs?
Can every V2 be a V1?
No, um, same thing with audio.
Can every?
An A1 is in the truck mixingthe show on a, on a mixer right,
(21:15):
and doing all the patching tothe, to the wherever the client
is, and so forth.
But the A2, they're actuallythe ones that are in the arena
connecting the microphones andsetting up monitors and and
making sure all of the patchingworks in the different locations
.
So, and not every A2 wants tobe an A1.
It's just totally different.
(21:36):
So it's just learning.
For me, it was just learningwhat everybody does.
Yeah.
Angela Tuell (21:42):
How big is a crew on a certain production?
Gary Bender (21:47):
I have a production on Saturday that's 18 people
for a hockey show, but thenthere's a basketball show the
next day that's like 14.
But then a client like the NewYork Knicks come in town and
they have over 22 people.
It just every client'sdifferent.
Every client's needs aredifferent and part of it is if
(22:11):
they're doing some of theproduction in their home studio.
Yeah.
So some, some teams andnetworks have their graphics,
their score, bug operator, umand other positions back at
their home studio Okay, Whereasothers it's all on site.
(22:32):
Yeah.
So?
And if it's all on site, arethey traveling in people, are
they not?
So every show is different,it's different.
Angela Tuell (22:40):
What happened before companies like Program
Productions?
Was it all done by the network?
Gary Bender (22:47):
or the teams, I think it was all done by the
networks and even now some ofthe networks still do it
themselves, right, um, but youknow, we, our company, started
in Chicago.
Um, and now I mean every, everyevent in that town is now a
program productions event.
Um, our, our uh leadership.
(23:09):
Um, bobby and Joey Carzoli,they still will show up and get
on camera at Wrigley Field.
Okay, and run a camera, becausethat's what they love and
that's how they got started.
That's awesome.
Angela Tuell (23:21):
Are we able to tell, when we're watching a
sports event, if it's done bythe company?
No, okay, there's no way.
Yeah, you never know.
So I have to ask what are youmost proud?
Gary Bender (23:35):
about in your career so far.
I think just that if you wereto go talk to people I've worked
with that, they would all saythat I'm a good person and you
know, I don't feel like I'vescrewed anybody over in my days,
but you know, when it comesdown to it, I think that's,
that's just a lot of what it is.
It's just being nice and being,you know, understanding, um,
(23:56):
you know, and now it's, it's forme it's juggling the client,
who has their needs, and they'realso people and they're also a
company that's paying a lot ofmoney.
But then the technicians, whohave families and have other
obligations and have things, andyou know you can't take it, you
can't always take thingspersonally, um, so it's just.
(24:18):
I think it's just, you know,keep on trying to be a nice
person yeah, that's what we allneed to strive for.
Angela Tuell (24:26):
Number one, right, yeah, what do you hope the
future holds for youprofessionally?
Gary Bender (24:38):
This company is growing every single day and I
would just love to grow with itand see what's around the corner
.
Our company grows every sixmonths and we're a different
company as our leadership keepsselling us and it's true, but
it's for the better.
We keep growing and keepbringing on more clients and
doing more jobs.
So I think you know I'm excitedjust to see where this takes us
(25:02):
.
Angela Tuell (25:03):
Yeah, and I'm sure things change pretty often with
technology as far I mean weknow it has since we started in
journalism and broadcasting.
Gary Bender (25:10):
but so, going back to like the kids in Maryland,
right, they're usingstate-of-the-art cameras and you
know TD boards and switchers,and if they were to go work in a
production truck, they have togo backwards 20 years almost.
Wow, yeah Like the camerasaren't the same right.
The cameras off a productiontruck are the big long lens
(25:34):
cameras you see, in stadiums.
The ones in Maryland are sortof just smaller, but I mean, so
it's.
The technology is sort of aheadof some of what's actually
being used.
Angela Tuell (25:49):
Yeah, yeah, that's so exciting.
Yeah, how can our listenersconnect with you online?
Gary Bender (25:55):
Is LinkedIn the best?
Yeah, the best way is LinkedIn.
I try to keep the rest of it tomyself.
Angela Tuell (25:59):
Great.
Well, we will add that link inour show notes.
Thank you so much, Gary Ofcourse.
Gary Bender (26:05):
Thanks for having me.
Angela Tuell (26:07):
That's all for this episode of Media in Minutes
, a podcast by CommunicationsRedefined.
Please take a moment to rate,review and subscribe to our show
.
We'd love to hear what youthink you can find more at
communicationsredefinedcom slashpodcast.
I'm your host, Angela Tuell.
Talk to you next time.
Welcome to Media in Minutes.
This is your host, Angela Tuell.
This podcast features in-depthinterviews with those who report
on the world around us.
They share everything fromtheir favorite stories to what
happened behind the lens andgive us a glimpse into their
world From our studio here atCommunications Redefined.
This is Media in Minutes.
In today's episode, we aretalking with Gary Bender.
(00:32):
Gary started his career as alocal news assignment editor in
Washington DC.
During his decades-longbroadcast career, he has also
worked for CNN, comcast Sportsand ESPN.
Currently, he is crewingmanager for Program Productions,
north America's largestindependent production crew,
where he manages production oflive sports events.
(00:55):
Hi, gary.
Gary Bender (00:57):
Hello, how are you?
Angela Tuell (00:58):
Great, I am so happy to have you on our podcast
today.
Gary Bender (01:03):
Glad to be here.
Angela Tuell (01:05):
For those of you who don't know, Gary and I go
way back to the University ofMaryland, where we were in
journalism together and havebeen friends for more years than
I should mention so as not toage us right.
Yeah, please don't.
So how are things in Maryland?
Gary Bender (01:22):
Things are good, weather's bad, but everything
else is good.
Angela Tuell (01:25):
Yeah, that's the winter for you, right?
You never know if it's going tobe rain or snow or sun.
I'd love to start this is goingto be really interesting today,
because you've been inbroadcast for almost your whole
career but I'd like to startwith you walking us through your
early career and how you becameinterested in journalism in the
(01:45):
first place, which I'm not surethat I even know or remember.
Gary Bender (01:49):
Yeah, so you know, I was at college and I went to
college at Maryland thinking Iwas going to do business.
Right, my dad was anentrepreneur all his life.
My older brother was atMaryland in the business school
at the time and I figured thatwas like the natural thing to do
.
And you know, when it came downto it, I don't do math well, so
.
So that wasn't working out forme, um, and I just tried to
(02:11):
think about what else there wasand I wouldn't look at the
English department and I'm likenope, not me.
And then I went to thecommunications department at
Maryland and that was like more,I guess, pr, um, and that that
again just wasn't like what Iwas looking for from the
journalism school.
Realized you had to take a testto get into the journalism
(02:32):
school.
Yeah, like to transfer in um,which I had to take three.
I had to take it a third timeand like beg and plead to make
that happen, um, and then I gotin um it is hard to get into the
to the journalism school there.
Yeah, yeah and you would thinkit'd be easier if you're already
at the at maryland and thentransfer in, but it's not yeah
(02:53):
so and honestly it was.
It was one of those thingswhere I looked back like growing
up, like what I liked to do,and one thing I did growing up
was I would print out sportsscores on from the computer and
pretend I was doing a sportscast and pretend I was George
Michael right back to be aGeorge Michael sports machine
(03:14):
back in the day, and I bet Iwould sit there and pretend I
was the anchor and that's sortof kind of where the connections
were made.
And then, you know, I got intojournalism school and I actually
got an internship at the GeorgeMichael Sports Machine my
junior year of college, yes,which you weren't supposed to at
the time, and it was great andI, you know, I met people there
(03:36):
that I still talk to to this dayand that was just logging games
.
But you're then in an editbooth with George Michael and it
was great and you got to seeyour highlights on TV.
And then you got to sit next toJim Vance and Dorian Gensler,
you know, doing a fake sportscast in the studio and it's like
(03:57):
this is awesome.
And then, you know, as schoolwent along, the summer before
senior year, I got an internship.
I actually originally wassupposed to do a radio
internship, which I found on myown, which our intern advisor at
the time, sue, told me shewould never give me credit for
(04:18):
that.
She handed me a post-it notewith the name and a phone number
and it was a friend of mine,now a friend of mine who worked
at Fox 5 in DC.
I was two weeks late for theinternship and I begged and
pleaded for human resources tomake it happen and I did so.
If you notice a pattern, I'malways like behind the game.
Angela Tuell (04:40):
Somehow you've been successful still, I know I
know.
Gary Bender (04:43):
So I interned the summer of 2001.
During the internship, the EPat the time said I'm going to
make sure you get a job here.
And I got hired two weeksbefore 9-11.
Yeah, and then 9-11 happenedand I spent my entire senior
year of college workingovernight weekends.
Angela Tuell (05:05):
Yes, I remember that.
Gary Bender (05:06):
That's how you know most people are doing other
things.
Their senior year of collegeand I'm working.
But that's kind of where itstarted and you know, sort of
the passion for the journalismside of it came in and I turned
out.
I did not want to be ontelevision my first day as an
intern.
I actually was told by areporter there that I don't have
the look.
Angela Tuell (05:27):
I don't remember that.
What yeah?
Gary Bender (05:30):
I won't name names.
But he said you'll never be ontelevision.
You'll never be on TV, youdon't have the look.
So I sort of found my niche atthe assignment desk, and then I
stayed there for seven years.
Angela Tuell (05:47):
Yes, you know, as you mentioned the assignment
desk that was at Fox in DC, weactually haven't had someone
that was an assignment editor onthe show yet.
So for those who are not veryfamiliar with that role, tell us
a little bit about it and whatyou also did for CNN, Comcast
and ESPN.
Gary Bender (06:06):
Yep, so in local news.
So the assignment is the nervecenter right.
Local news.
You're listening to policescanners, you're fielding phone
calls, you're working with theproducers and then the camera
ops and the reporters.
You're doing the logistics.
You're touching base basicallyhourly with local police
(06:28):
departments and, as you know, inDC there are many different
police jurisdictions.
We have a four page list of ourrounds, so to speak.
Where you had to call, you'rebasically cold calling police
departments.
Anything going on, you know,you're asking them, you're
trying to fish.
Every now and then you'd getsomething.
But you also get to know peopleand that's a lot of what that
(06:52):
was.
But you are the central commandof the entire operation.
If a producer wants a piece ofvideo, if the producer wants a
live shot, if the producer wantsa remote live shot from, if the
producer wants a live shot, ifthe producer wants a remote live
shot from another network,you're it.
They're going to the assignmentdesk for everything.
Yes, and then at CNN it was alittle different because it was
(07:14):
on a national level.
So basically I was then workingwith assignment desks at local
stations around the country.
When I was there I did a lot ofthe Northeast, so Boston,
buffalo, new York, uh,pittsburgh, philly, like so I
would.
That was sort of my region.
Um, and it was a lot of youknow again touching base, what,
(07:36):
what stories are you guysworking on today?
Yeah.
Like the next light, the nextlevel up, basically.
And then I moved back home,home, Comcast Sportsnet, where
again you're sort of in thelocal environment.
This time it's sports.
Angela Tuell (07:50):
Right Were you happy to go back to sports.
Did you like that even more?
Gary Bender (07:56):
There are times where I wish I gave CNN more of
a chance.
I was only there a little overa year.
I moved home to get married andit was a move that got me to
where I am today, because if Ididn't make that move I wouldn't
be here and had the next job Idid at ESPN.
But part of me wishes I stayedin CNN longer but, that's fine.
(08:23):
So then again, comcast Sportsnetwas again.
You know the, the, the locallevel, but this time it's sports
and you're working with thedifferent teams, um, and
colleges, um, and then againthat was my jumping point to go
to Bristol, connecticut.
Yeah.
Um, and I was only at ComcastSportsnet like a year and a half
and then I was at ESPN forseven years and that was sort of
(08:48):
back to the sort of what it wasat CNN, where you're working
with the local stations aroundthe country, and for me I was
running the NFL team on theassignment desk, so it was
getting practice video,post-game sound, and then it was
also setting up live shots forSunday NFL countdown.
So I think the theme of all ofit is it's a lot of logistics
(09:12):
and it's a lot of dealing withpeople.
Angela Tuell (09:15):
Yes, and a lot of stress.
You have to be good at handlinga million things at once, and
that's not for everyone.
Gary Bender (09:21):
No, it's not I mean and stress, but at the same
time organized, yes.
So one example I can give whenI was at ESPN was I remember Cam
Newton got in a car accidentjust outside the Panther Stadium
in Carolina.
Well, my local news instinctskick in and I'm calling the
police department, I'm callingthe fire department, I'm calling
the hospital.
It's just those things sort oftrigger and come back hospital.
(09:48):
It's just those things sort oftrigger and come back.
But yeah, it's a lot ofpatience and a lot of you know
you have to be confident inyourself too, because if you
don't know what you're talkingabout or you don't make sense,
then the person on the otherside isn't gonna help you.
Angela Tuell (10:00):
Yes, yes, and be able, like you said, to build
those relationships and to beable to talk to anyone, and
those are all things that ajournalist developed.
You know that you developedthrough being a journalist.
What did you most enjoy aboutbeing an assignment editor and
what about least?
Gary Bender (10:17):
I enjoyed the hustle and bustle.
I enjoyed that every day wasdifferent.
You never knew what you weregoing to walk into.
You know, unfortunately therewere days where it was death and
destruction.
There were days where it was,you know, Super Bowls.
You just never knew what wasgoing to happen.
I saw a lot when I was at Fox 5.
You know, I was there forshuttle explosion.
(10:38):
I was there for, I remember, ifyou remember, the AP alerts on
the computer made it like therewas like a bell, if it was a red
alert yes.
Right and a Saturday morning atlike 730, that thing started
blaring and it said RonaldReagan passed away.
Yeah, I called my news director.
(10:58):
She said I don't believe it,you need to confirm it and I
love her to death.
Catherine Green is one of thegreatest managers, bosses,
anybody could ever have.
I called the LAPD and theyconfirmed it.
But you know you learn a lotworking with people like that
and even now it's like sometimesyou just got to do it yourself.
(11:22):
You got to make the phone callyou got to.
You know you have to hear itfor yourself.
You can't just believe.
Even if it's the AP setting onAP alert, sometimes you just got
to make sure.
Yes, yes.
So the least was you know,nights, weekends, holidays.
(11:42):
You know, at Fox five I made adeal with my buddy who he were.
I would work Christmas if hewould work Thanksgiving and it
worked like that for seven yearsAt ESPN I was in charge of the
NFL.
Nfl was on Sundays.
I'm working every Sunday.
You're working.
You could be working a 6 amshift.
(12:05):
You could be working a 3 tomidnight shift.
That was the downside of it wasthe hours and the family side
of it was tough.
But there was nothing like therush you get in those breaking
news moments that made it worthit.
Angela Tuell (12:24):
That's exciting.
Yeah, I do have to ask on theassignment desk, did you work
with PR professionals often, orwhat was your?
What's your advice for those?
Gary Bender (12:34):
My advice is just be patient.
You never know when you'recalled, especially a local
newsroom First of all, a lot oflocal newsrooms.
These days, the personanswering the phone is the
assignment editor, the producerand the anchor at the same time.
Yes.
And you don't, especially ifyou're not from that area or
live in that area and you don'tknow what's going on.
(12:54):
You don't know, especially ifyou're not from that area or
live in that area and you don'tknow what's going on.
You don't know what's going on.
They could be dealing with afire, they could be dealing with
a murder, they could be dealing.
You're like, you just don'tknow.
So when you're the PR personand they're like I don't have
time for you right now, click,don't be offended because they
just might not have time for itright now.
Angela Tuell (13:15):
Yeah, and don't call me back.
Gary Bender (13:17):
Yeah, and luckily now you guys, pr professionals,
can email.
Yes, when I was in local news,email was just sort of beginning
and it wasn't really a thingRight.
Angela Tuell (13:28):
Wait, that's aging us too, I know, I know.
Gary Bender (13:30):
Right, we had fax machines back then.
I know Right, we had faxmachines back then.
But honestly I would just say,either do a little homework
before you make those phonecalls and you know, hey, is
anything happening in Baltimore,maryland today?
I mean every day in Baltimore,but but like you know, it's
(13:51):
something out of the ordinary,right?
And again you just again areyou calling during their
newscast?
Not the best time to call.
Right.
You know, and if you're aregular in the market, you'll
learn and maybe you'll you know,need to learn, when their
editorial meetings happen,because if you're calling during
their meeting, you're notgetting a good answer from
(14:11):
anybody Right, and an interncould be answering that phone
call.
So do a little bit of homeworkbefore making that phone call.
Angela Tuell (14:22):
Yes, that's all great advice we must also talk
about after being an assignmentdesk for all of those stations
for a short time, you leftbroadcast journalism and went
into communications for acorporate company.
How was that experience andwhat made you go back into
broadcasting?
Gary Bender (14:39):
So I left ESPN, moved back to Maryland.
It was a family decision to becloser to family and also
Central Connecticut's not thebest place to be, especially if
you're not from that area.
So I you know, know, I wasfreelancing a little bit at like
ABC and then I got a full-timejob at a company in Baltimore.
(15:01):
Um, I was doing like website,um content creation, and I
taught myself how to do graphicdesign.
I taught myself how to makepodcasts.
It was different.
It's a whole different world.
It was also part of, like,their human resources department
(15:22):
.
Angela Tuell (15:23):
Oh, that's strange .
I mean, I haven't seencommunications under that.
Really, it.
Gary Bender (15:28):
Yes, that's how they were it was, it was not as
exciting.
Yes.
So then I randomly jokinglytexted a former coworker of mine
who I knew was working at thiscompany called Program
Productions and I said hey, isyour company hiring?
(15:50):
She said send me your resume.
Three or four days later I'mgetting phone calls, emails,
setting up interviews.
Then I got this job and I youknow I wouldn't want any other
job right now.
Like you know, you sit there ata place like ESPN and you're
like I wonder if the grass isgreener.
Yeah.
You know you wonder that Lookingfrom this side now, the grass
(16:14):
is as green as I could everimagine.
Yeah, and it's great to be backin the sports side of it.
A lot of what I learned on theassignment desk translated as
far as the organization, thepatients talking to people I
mean, I talk to people every day, Right?
Angela Tuell (16:33):
Yeah, tell us more about Program Productions for
those who are not familiar.
What you do, sure.
Gary Bender (16:37):
So Program Productions we are the largest
live event staffing company inthe country.
We crew the production trucksfor all the networks that do
live sports NHL, nba, mlb andsome NFL, mainly preseason.
(16:59):
But we hire the cameraoperators, the audio techs, the
video, everybody below the line,so to speak, like the
production will send theirdirector and their producer, and
then we're hiring everybodyelse on the local level.
And you know, for me, you knowit's on the surface, it's
(17:22):
basically just it's putting apuzzle together.
Every show is a puzzle andevery show has needs and names
fit into this puzzle.
So I have, you know, my cameraguys fit into the camera needs
of the client.
But then you learn that it'snot just a camera operator, it's
what camera operator and who.
(17:43):
And you know you.
You you learn who the peopleare and you get to know them and
you talk to them.
And it's been an interestingevolution just over my last, my
two and a half years from.
I have a grid, I have to fillit to.
I have a grid, I have to fillit.
I have to make sure it's theright fit.
Angela Tuell (18:02):
Yeah, you told me that you crewed 350 jobs in 2023
and will crew close to 400 thisyear.
How do you manage that much?
I mean, besides theorganization, it, it, it must be
the assignment editorbackground, but it is it, it, it
?
Gary Bender (18:19):
you know it is organization.
I work ahead.
So, sitting here right now,it's December 11th and my entire
2025 baseball visiting teamcrews are set Wow.
But that way I can focus on theother things that come up.
So I personally do all thevisiting shows in DC and
(18:44):
Baltimore.
So Caps, wizards, nationals,orioles I do all the visiting
teams.
So you know every show isdifferent Every.
Okay, it's not.
(19:07):
I can't just put a person in aposition.
I have to know who that personis.
So, on top of everything else,it's also, you know, I can go
play golf with the cameraoperators.
I'm, I hire Maryland studentsfor replay operator and camera
(19:34):
operator.
What they're doing on thecollege level right now is
unbelievable.
With Big Ten, network Plus andall these other streaming
platforms, they're they'reproducing every sporting event
on campus.
Yeah.
Right, it's amazing.
And then most of those jobswill translate into you know
these jobs.
Angela Tuell (19:54):
Right.
What were you surprised tolearn about when getting into
sports production?
Um?
Gary Bender (20:03):
I think for me the biggest thing was just learning
what everybody does.
Yeah.
Right, a lot, yeah, right a lotof a lot of terms are thrown out
there v1, v2, a1, a2, bug, op,parabop, evs, lead, evs, ro.
It's just learning all thesethings.
And then some companies callthem different than others.
And I mean I ran into asituation where I had a client
(20:26):
from canada who their name foryou, I forget what it is, but
they don't use the term utility.
They haven't.
I forget what the term is, butit's different and I have to
figure.
You know, I'm like, okay, whatis this?
Um, so it's just, it was justfiguring out what everybody does
.
Yeah, um, and again, being ableto go on site and get into the
truck and just talk to peopleand see what they do, you kind
(20:51):
of figure out.
Okay, here's the difference inwhat the V, the V1, which is the
main video op, and the V2,which is the second video op,
what, what the difference is.
And then, who can do those jobs?
Can every V2 be a V1?
No, um, same thing with audio.
Can every?
An A1 is in the truck mixingthe show on a, on a mixer right,
(21:15):
and doing all the patching tothe, to the wherever the client
is, and so forth.
But the A2, they're actuallythe ones that are in the arena
connecting the microphones andsetting up monitors and and
making sure all of the patchingworks in the different locations
.
So, and not every A2 wants tobe an A1.
It's just totally different.
(21:36):
So it's just learning.
For me, it was just learningwhat everybody does.
Yeah.
Angela Tuell (21:42):
How big is a crew on a certain production?
Gary Bender (21:47):
I have a production on Saturday that's 18 people
for a hockey show, but thenthere's a basketball show the
next day that's like 14.
But then a client like the NewYork Knicks come in town and
they have over 22 people.
It just every client'sdifferent.
Every client's needs aredifferent and part of it is if
(22:11):
they're doing some of theproduction in their home studio.
Yeah.
So some, some teams andnetworks have their graphics,
their score, bug operator, umand other positions back at
their home studio Okay, Whereasothers it's all on site.
(22:32):
Yeah.
So?
And if it's all on site, arethey traveling in people, are
they not?
So every show is different,it's different.
Angela Tuell (22:40):
What happened before companies like Program
Productions?
Was it all done by the network?
Gary Bender (22:47):
or the teams, I think it was all done by the
networks and even now some ofthe networks still do it
themselves, right, um, but youknow, we, our company, started
in Chicago.
Um, and now I mean every, everyevent in that town is now a
program productions event.
Um, our, our uh leadership.
(23:09):
Um, bobby and Joey Carzoli,they still will show up and get
on camera at Wrigley Field.
Okay, and run a camera, becausethat's what they love and
that's how they got started.
That's awesome.
Angela Tuell (23:21):
Are we able to tell, when we're watching a
sports event, if it's done bythe company?
No, okay, there's no way.
Yeah, you never know.
So I have to ask what are youmost proud?
Gary Bender (23:35):
about in your career so far.
I think just that if you wereto go talk to people I've worked
with that, they would all saythat I'm a good person and you
know, I don't feel like I'vescrewed anybody over in my days,
but you know, when it comesdown to it, I think that's,
that's just a lot of what it is.
It's just being nice and being,you know, understanding, um,
(23:56):
you know, and now it's, it's forme it's juggling the client,
who has their needs, and they'realso people and they're also a
company that's paying a lot ofmoney.
But then the technicians, whohave families and have other
obligations and have things, andyou know you can't take it, you
can't always take thingspersonally, um, so it's just.
(24:18):
I think it's just, you know,keep on trying to be a nice
person yeah, that's what we allneed to strive for.
Angela Tuell (24:26):
Number one, right, yeah, what do you hope the
future holds for youprofessionally?
Gary Bender (24:38):
This company is growing every single day and I
would just love to grow with itand see what's around the corner
.
Our company grows every sixmonths and we're a different
company as our leadership keepsselling us and it's true, but
it's for the better.
We keep growing and keepbringing on more clients and
doing more jobs.
So I think you know I'm excitedjust to see where this takes us
(25:02):
.
Angela Tuell (25:03):
Yeah, and I'm sure things change pretty often with
technology as far I mean weknow it has since we started in
journalism and broadcasting.
Gary Bender (25:10):
but so, going back to like the kids in Maryland,
right, they're usingstate-of-the-art cameras and you
know TD boards and switchers,and if they were to go work in a
production truck, they have togo backwards 20 years almost.
Wow, yeah Like the camerasaren't the same right.
The cameras off a productiontruck are the big long lens
(25:34):
cameras you see, in stadiums.
The ones in Maryland are sortof just smaller, but I mean, so
it's.
The technology is sort of aheadof some of what's actually
being used.
Angela Tuell (25:49):
Yeah, yeah, that's so exciting.
Yeah, how can our listenersconnect with you online?
Gary Bender (25:55):
Is LinkedIn the best?
Yeah, the best way is LinkedIn.
I try to keep the rest of it tomyself.
Angela Tuell (25:59):
Great.
Well, we will add that link inour show notes.
Thank you so much, Gary Ofcourse.
Gary Bender (26:05):
Thanks for having me.
Angela Tuell (26:07):
That's all for this episode of Media in Minutes
, a podcast by CommunicationsRedefined.
Please take a moment to rate,review and subscribe to our show
.
We'd love to hear what youthink you can find more at
communicationsredefinedcom slashpodcast.
I'm your host, Angela Tuell.
Talk to you next time.
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