Promo Pathway 
Best of Promo Pathway The Promo Pathway Program is the first accredited on-air promotions training program in the US that prepares creative youth, ages 18-26, from underrepresented communities for the exciting world of television marketing. Designed to fast track the pipeline of diverse creative talent into the entertainment marketing industry, the initiative is an anchor program of the PromaxBDA Diversity Council.
In partnership with Santa Monica College and the South Bay Development Corporation, PromaxBDA mobilized industry wide support for the Promo Pathway Program. Through a combination of courses, internships and mentorships, the students receive intensive training in short-form writing, creative execution, and video editing and production. Upon program completion, PromaxBDA will help students make the successful transition into the on-air promotions workforce.
Promo Pathway Internship Programs ▸
Promo Pathway Mentorship Program ▸
Special thanks to The Promo Pathway Advisory Council members: Marshall Hites, Drea Besch, Jim Vescera, Veronica Davidson, Ola Kudu, Delilah Loud, Robert Gottlieb, Stu Weiss, Brian Dollenmayer, Jay Curtis and Sawmpy Hawkins.
If you would like more information or to get involved in the Promo Pathway internship programs or Promo Pathway mentorship program, please contact the director of industry development and diversity, Katerina Zacharia at katerina@promaxbda.org or 310.789.1523.
Fostering the passion, creativity and leadership skills of young talent to build a stronger industry.
The PromaxBDA Promo Pathway Mentorship Program matches students of the Promo Pathway with executives working in on air promotions.
The purpose of this program is to help Promo Pathway students make the successful transition into the industry and specifically, the on-air promotions workplace. The goal is to develop their knowledge of the industry, foster their creative passion for the entertainment marketing industry, and enhance their ability to demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills within and between professional and personal contexts.
- Match each student with an on-air promotions executive at either a network or a studio
- Ensure that each mentee successfully completes the Promo Pathway
- Gain unique insights and off-the-record understanding of what it takes to be successful in the television promo industry
- Learning the meaning and application of Promo skills and training through the eyes and experiences of successful writer, producers and editors
- Gain access to experiences of professionals for guidance in time management, communications, and networking skills
- Develop skills and knowledge to launch a successful career in television promo production
- Gain personal satisfaction from enriching students' experience through guidance and career development
- Enhance coaching, feedback, leadership, and networking skills
- Experience new and different creative styles, approaches, and thought processes
- Receive mentorship and leadership training
The Promo Pathway mentorship program is a 9 month structured skill-based mentorship program that meets once per month for 2 hours. E-mail/phone call correspondence will provide the communication channel in between the monthly sessions. In the first 3 sessions leading up to the internship, meetings will take place at Santa Monica College. The program requires a minimum of 3 contact hours per month between the meeting and the e-mail/phone communications.
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Industry Development and Diversity, Katerina Zacharia at Katerina@promaxbda.org.
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PromaxBDA has designed an industry-wide internship program to populate the on-air promo pipeline with diverse talent. The PromaxBDA Promo Pathway Internship Program offers 25 students non-competitive internships in on-air promotions, integrated marketing and production at television networks and the creative agencies who serve them. Networks, agencies and production companies united to mobilize and carve out an on-air promo internship program specifically for the Promo Pathway students.
PromaxBDA vets the student talent and matches them with the most appropriate network or agency for their internship. PromaxBDA sends four of students to each organization for interviews. The company selects one student and the others will continue to interview at other companies.
The internship serves to train and prepare students to enter the entertainment marketing industry and, more specifically, the on-air promotions workplace. As part of the internship program, the 25 Promo Pathway students will experience one internship and one apprenticeship during the course of their training.
Summer
This seven-week internship will expose students to all areas of on-air promotions: the workflow, the different job functions and the professional demands of the creative work environment. In this first internship, students will gain hands-on experience in media industry practices and activities and develop mentorship experiences with promo media professionals.
Autumn
In the second internship cycle, networks and production companies are expected to have the student work closely with an editor, writer or producer in on-air promotions. Similar to an apprenticeship, this opportunity will expose students to the minute-to-minute operations of conceptualizing and executing promotions. This apprenticeship provides students the opportunity to move their editing and writing skills out of the classroom and into the workplace.
Internships are restricted to 20-24 hours per week. Students must gain college credit for the internship. Compensation is preferred.
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Industry Development and Diversity, Katerina Zacharia at Katerina@promaxbda.org.
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