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Rick Sylvain

Major / Graduation Year:

    

Liberal Arts (Journalism) '69

Residence:

    

Orlando

Job Title / Description:

    

Print and News Media Publicity Director for Walt Disney World, managing a staff of 13 individuals and working with print and online media around the U.S. to build awareness for all things Disney.

Early jobs or career experiences:

    

College writing jobs: editor, Campus Detroit; staff member of Varsity News, writing entertainment features and sports column, "Side Lines." Late nights putting out the paper or the magazine provided real, in-the-trenches learning invaluable to a journalism newbie. We kind of bonded towards a shared goal of good journalism, and had goofy fun in the process. Also part-time job at WXYZ-TV News.

Most Useful Career Skills I've learned:

    

To be around the anchors, writers and film editors (at WXYZ-TV News) really sharpened my focus on news as a career path. Every day was different. That TV newsroom was another classroom for me.

What I like best about my job (best perks):

    

As travel editor for the Detroit Free Press-seeing so many places in thisworld-it was a magic carpet ride. The work is immensely gratifying. We're in the smile business.

My favorite UDM Classes or Professors:

    

Journalism teachers Jim Thompson, Frank Vel, the FreePress' Neal Shine and others. There was always this nurturing feeling that someone cared.