Next time you’re watching the Durham Bulls broadcast on TV or eyeing the blue monster after a highlight play, take a second look. The professional-grade camerawork, crisp audio and flawless transitions aren’t the product of expert broadcasters in New York or Washington, D.C., but rather of local teenagers from the Triangle. Explorer Post 50 proves that you don’t need a degree or a salary to make your mark in the media industry, but simply a headset and a chance.
Explorer Post 50
Created in the fall of 1998, Explorer Post 50 is a youth-based television broadcasting program that provides students ages 14-20 with an opportunity to explore a television career, gain hands-on experience, learn valuable leadership lessons, learn to work under pressure and acquire tons of other skills. Unlike other broadcasting crews throughout the major sports, Explorer Post 50 is responsible for the live television broadcast of all home Durham Bulls baseball games.
The program is a part of a large organization called Learning for Life. Sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, Learning for Life is an educational program designed to meet the needs of youth and schools. It helps youth meet the challenge of growing up by teaching character and good decision-making skills, linking this to the real world.
Ken Bland, director of Explorer Post 50, started the program back in 1998 with the support of Jim Goodmon, Capitol Broadcasting and the Durham Bulls Baseball Club. Bland sat down with the GH Falcon, emphasizing his “why” behind the program: “For me, it’s always been about making a difference. There’s no better way than working with young people ages 14-20 then giving them a chance to explore something they might want to do for a career… I believe that youth learn best by doing, not just watching”. Explorer Post 50 has produced loads of success beyond the program. Bland highlights the preparation that Post 50 provides, “The sports broadcasting industry is a small, competitive field. While we may only scratch the surface of the technical side, we provide a true real-world broadcast experience”.
Many former members of Post 50 have had tremendous success beyond the ballpark. Former member Rob Rowe elaborated on the skills he learned from Post 50, sharing, “Explorer Post 50 has taught me the skills and concepts I use in not only my career, but in my everyday life… These experiences helped me create storytelling tools used in the vast majority of Major League ballparks every game.” Rowe was a member from 2008-2010, joined the Pit Crew in 2011, and served as an executive and advisor until 2017. Beyond, Rowe currently works for Duke University Athletics and has had stints with USA Baseball and Ross Video.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the program is how a minor league baseball team can balance students having fun with the high-stakes of running a national television broadcast. Bland addressed the question, “At the Bulls, we aim to create a fun, educational learning environment while producing a live broadcast, which can be stressful. We know that we are going to make mistakes which is part of the process, and we focus on learning from them and improving going forward.”
What seperates good from great
With many past members going beyond the program to make strides in the real world, one thing typically stands out to foreshadow success. Bland emphasizes, “the Willingness to learn… Our broadcasts are produced entirely by Explorer Post 50 members. Our goal is to rotate our members through all positions that we offer including executive producer, director, technical director, camera operations, graphics, audio, camera control and instant replay.” With positions ranging from executive producer to camera control, Explorer Post 50 serves as a bridge to the professional world for students, “those that are serious about choosing this as a career will engage and want to learn all that we have to offer.”
The ultimate mission
As the field of sports journalism and broadcasting continues to evolve, the core mission of Post 50 remains unchanged, “give students a ‘why’ and ‘how’ before they step foot into the real world”. Through the vision and opportunities provided by director Ken Bland and the support of the Durham Bulls, the program continues to prove that when you give teenagers a chance to fail, you give them the ultimate opportunity to succeed. Running on 28 years now, the Durham Bulls strive to provide the new generation of student broadcasters with opportunities for experience, leadership, team work and an action-packed, fun summer.
