Toni Zito

Antonia Zito is a junior Radio Major at Columbia College Chicago. She enrolled as a freshman in the fall of 2004. While at Columbia she has maintained a 3.0 GPA and has become involved in the department in a myriad of ways. She was a Teacher Assistant, a student volunteer for the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Conference at Columbia College, an intern at Nine-FM and currently hosts a morning show every Friday from 7-11 AM on WCRX, 88.1 FM.

1. When did you first become interested in radio?    

I've really always been interested in radio. I can remember being a little girl, playing in my basement with our karaoke machine, pretending to be an on-air jock. I would transition from tape to tape, and even sometimes play with my Mom's old box of 45's on my record player.

2. What goals did you have prior to coming to Columbia?

Columbia had come to my high school job fair and I can remember looking through the pamphlets, finding out Columbia had a radio program, and thinking, "that's it, this is the place for me."  My goals were really to make lots of great connections and eventually find someone to see my passion and my talent for this industry.

3. I speak to a lot of freshmen and they talk about the transition from high school to college and the difficulties they may face. Looking back, how would you describe your first year at Columbia?

My first year at Columbia was a huge transition for me. I had attended small, private schools since I was in Kindergarten. My four years of high school were spent with five-hundred other girls and a handful of nuns. I worried that it would be difficult to adjust and really stand out with all these other talented people.   If I would have known what an amazing time I was going to have my freshman year, there would have been no worries in sight. Some of the most important people in my life right now are the people I met my first week at Columbia.

4. Sophmore year seems to be the time when most students start getting involved with the department. How did your first position in the department come about?  

My first position in the department was a Teachers Assistant for a Production I class. I took the class the second semester of my sophomore year, worked my butt off, and made a great connection with the instructor. After he saw my passion and enthusiasm for the work in the course, he asked me to T.A. for him in the coming fall. It was one of most influential parts so far in my Columbia Career.

5. During the summer and fall semester of 2006, you interned with "The Steve and Joey" show at Nine-FM. How did you prepare for the interview?

Tom Joyce was a huge help when it came to getting ready for this interview. He really coached me when it came time to put my cover letter and resume together. I listened to Steve and Joey's show the entire week before my interview and really got to know their on-air personalities and the skits and bits they brought to the show.    

6. How long did it take until you really felt you were a "part of the show?"

It was probably only about a week into working for them that I felt like I was part of their morning show family. We would spend 5am to 12noon together 3 mornings a week. I'm so lucky that I was able to do that with a group of people that were so amazing.

7. What classes prepared you best for the internship?  

So many. My Production one class helped me when it came to putting sound-bits and interviews together, my RBI and RSO helped when it came to me being on-air, The Radio Producer helped me every single morning when I would comb through those news papers and internet sites to find the shows content for the day.

8. The internship opened a lot of doors for you. Thinking back, what was your most thrilling moment?

I would say my most thrilling moment, other than meeting some of the best people in radio, would have to be when my father called to tell me he had heard Nine-FM on the radio in a store he was at and mentioned to the owner that his daughter worked for that station. The guy said, "well who is your daughter, cause we listen to this station all the time". He told them my name and they said, "NO WAY!   We love her and listen to her every morning". It was great to think, gosh, I'm doing something that people enjoy.

9. This past fall semester, you hosted a morning show at WCRX-FM. Do you feel having the internship made hosting your own show easier?

Absolutely. The internship was the best training I could have ever had before doing my own show.  

10. You were also front and center for the "Holly Jolly Christmas Trolly." After doing live events at Nine-Fm, did you feel much more relaxed working in front of a crowd?  

Yes, I loved every minute of it. It's amazing how once you get in there, you forget about all your fears and just do what you love.

11. What words of advice would you have for students thinking about doing an internship?  

My advice would be to absolutely do it, and to give it everything you possibly could. Remember you're doing this because this is where your talent and your passion is. Remind yourself of that any day you have doubts.