Meet District 3 Representative: Mary Rogus, Ohio University
How long have you been a member of BEA?
13 years
What is your favorite book?
Wow, that’s a really tough question because reading is my favorite pastime and I devour about two books a week. Two of my favorites are Grisham’s A Time to Kill and Arthur Hailey’s The Evening News. I also loved anything by Tom Clancy and finish the latest Harlan Coben novel within 24 hours of its release.
What is your favorite TV show?
I couldn’t be more excited that 24 is back! Love it! And then anything SciFi.
How is BEA unique for you?
BEA is THE place where education, research and profession intersect. I think the interactions which happen at that intersection is absolutely vital for the future of media. BEA is the only place to find those interactions, and I thrive on them.
How did you get started in the industry?
My start was definitely during my undergraduate program at Ithaca College—I was running the news department at our college TV station by my senior year and loving every minute and every job in TV news. Then my first professional gig was as a one-man-band reporter (that’s what MMJs or VJs were called back then) for the NBC affiliate in Roanoke, VA. Yes, we actually had people who reported, shot and edited their own stories back in the dinosaur days of TV News (and the equipment was a lot heavier)—I even shot film for the first year!
As a Board member what are your goals for BEA?
It has been really wonderful to be part of the strategic planning process for BEA the last five years. The organization’s engagement with the industry and professional trade groups has exploded, primarily through the hard work of the staff, and I think seeing that growth continue is what makes BEA unique and valuable to its members. We’re also focusing on the growing diversity of and in media in this country, and globally. BEA has a great opportunity to reach out to future content producers, media managers and entrepreneurs to stress the importance of diversity in all its forms in our industry.
What is your favorite BEA memory?
My favorite BEA memory will always be my first convention in 2001. I had been in academe for a year and a half, after 20 years in the profession and 12 years of those were since grad school. I was definitely still trying to figure out the whole professor thing. My colleague at the time, Ken Fischer, said you have to go to BEA—you’ll feel at home. He was SO right. Immediately I knew I’d found my academic home. So many people were just like me—straddling that fence, even knocking it down, between the profession and academe. Everyone I met was so warm and welcoming. I went to session after session where I learned so much. And on the plane back to Ohio, all I could think about was, I can’t wait for next year. I’ve never missed a BEA Convention since, and now my favorite part is welcoming other newcomers into my BEA home.
