A news reporter for Seehafer Broadcasting in Manitowoc, Eric Bauer, is the WBA Young Professional of the Month for the month of January.
The WBA Young Professional of the Month is a nominee for the WBA Young Professional of the Year Award. The award seeks to recognize young broadcasters who have made a significant impact on their stations and communities. A subcommittee of the WBA Board of Directors will select the Young Professional of the Year, who will be recognized at the 2025 WBA Summer Conference on June 18 in La Crosse.
Eric was nominated by Seehafer Broadcasting News Director Ryan Brahmstadt, who said Bauer has grown the quality and quantity of their news coverage.
“Since his arrival, SeehaferNews.com has been able to cover a wider range of stories, specifically in Sheboygan County, where he lives. He has been responsible for covering stories in that area that we previously didn’t have the manpower to achieve,” Brahmstadt wrote.
Bauer is also calling local high school sports games.
“Eric has been open to doing and trying anything, even if it is not something he would have thought to try before.”
Nominate a YP of the Month here.
Here’s more about Eric:
Company: Seehafer Broadcasting
Position: News and Sports Reporter
Years at station: 6 months
Started in broadcasting (year): 2024
- How did you get into broadcasting?
I originally started in broadcasting while studying journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where I hosted a biweekly sports talk radio show for four years on the campus radio station. At Whitewater, I also spent four years as a play-by-play announcer for the football team as well as men’s and women’s basketball. I then started with Seehafer Broadcasting as a color commentator for boy’s and girl’s high school basketball games before starting full time with the company as a journalist in June 2024.
- How do you view the role of young professionals in broadcasting?
I view the role of young professionals in broadcasting as a glimpse into the future of the industry. While honoring what and who has come before us, I feel it is essential for young broadcasters to pave the way for where broadcasting will go in the coming years and decades. Broadcasting is an industry that is ever-changing as societal and technological practices do as well. I believe that as young professionals, it is on us to bring a new energy and perspective to the field while not straying too far away from what has made this industry what it is today.
- What advice would you give to other young broadcasters?
First and foremost, work hard and never give up. After I graduated from UW-Whitewater it took me four years to find a job in the broadcasting industry. I feel I can serve as a good example for anyone discouraged when looking for a job in the field. If you work hard and keep at it, good things will come. Secondly, do not fear failure. Especially early on, no one is perfect, and mistakes are bound to happen. However, these mistakes will prove to be some of the greatest learning experiences for a young professional in the world of broadcasting. Lastly, always be open to learning and accept constructive criticism. As young professionals, we are often the least experienced in the room. Anytime someone offers teaching moments or criticism relating to your work, always accept it with an open mind. There is always room for improvement whether you are a 30-year vet or, in my case, someone in their first year as a broadcaster.
- What does the future of broadcasting look like to you?
Bright! I feel the future of broadcasting looks great, however a bit uncertain with state-of-the-art technology appearing seemingly every day. While quite often these are luxuries, in the world of broadcasting, media, and news reporting, they can often blur the lines between fact and fiction. Especially with the rise in AI, it is on us as young broadcasters to educate ourselves and the public on the ethical use of it in the media and everyday life. We must work hard to better understand these technologies. Furthermore, I believe the future of broadcasting looks wildly exciting. Part of being in a business that experiences so much change is the thrill of not always knowing what’s next. Knowing that we as broadcasters will have to adapt and learn as these changes come excites me. So, while the future of broadcasting will have stark differences compared to what the industry looks like today, it will be grounded in the same principles that it has been for nearly a century.
