Graduate Gets Job As KWQC TV-6 News Promotions Producer
Promotions Producer
“I took a chance,” said Gigi (Oberloier) Boucher (‘16), the promotions producer for KWQC TV-6 News in Davenport, Iowa.
As a senior in college, obtaining a job after graduation can be difficult as entry level positions are minimal and competitive, and the other positions require some years of experience. Boucher faced this dilemma as she explored jobs in the field of media leading up to graduation.
In her search, Boucher stumbled across a few job opportunities, one job being the promotions producer position she currently now holds. Initially, though, they told her they were looking for someone with five years of experience in the broadcast industry, but allowed her to interview anyway.
“In the broadcast industry you wouldn’t necessarily jump right up to producing promotions,” Boucher said. “But they liked my portfolio…they liked what they saw…I took a chance.”
Boucher works on a team of four to promote the station’s image to the surrounding areas, mostly in Iowa, but parts of Illinois as well. On this team, Boucher’s primary job is to edit the promotional videos they do at KWQC TV-6.
Developing a Sense of Style
“To actually get good at video editing, you have to keep doing it,” Boucher shared.
As a Digital Media Marketing major, Boucher took several video classes, and a few photography classes. Each one helped her develop her own personal style. However, she did not limit herself only to class experience.
She would do videography for her friends and fellow classmates for various events, whether or not she was compensated for it. Learning in the classroom is one thing, but Boucher was grateful for the opportunities she had to put that knowledge into practice.
“Try to do as much as you can, because [every video] that you do, you’re going to get a little better and develop your style by putting it into practice,” she said.
In addition to class projects and helping fellow classmates, Boucher also gained experience by working in the Communications Office during her four years at MBU. She worked on several promotional videos with Luke Mielke, the university’s videographer at that time.
Mielke remembers that Boucher was willing to work hard and get the job done on time.
“[Boucher was] always willing to do what needed to be done even without a lot of warning,” he shared.
Mielke now teaches part time at MBU and owns his own media production company, FuZion Videos.
“Build your portfolio and work volunteer positions.” Mielke said, echoing the advice of Boucher. “Once you have a portfolio built, you can prove you know what you are doing and have the connections to learn more.”
Mielke also encourages his students to master their style through volunteer positions, which could turn into paid positions later down the road if they stick with it.
“A videographer is an artist,” Mielke stated. “Play around mimicking styles as well. It will help you learn and craft your own style as you take pieces of different styles and meld them with your own style.”
And while you cannot make everyone happy, listening and applying critiques is necessary, Mielke adds. Improving your craft requires the critique, whether it is from friends or professionals.
Gigi’s Future Goals
Boucher met her college sweetheart, Jake Boucher, at MBU and they were married a couple months after graduation. Jake owns Boucher Blacktop, an asphalt maintenance company, which is operated out of Iowa where they live.
In the next few years Boucher’s goal is to develop her wedding photography into full-time employment.You can check out her work on her Facebook page or website.
She took a chance, and she will take more—an exciting world of opportunity awaits.