Faculty & Staff
Instructor:
Jason Hibbs
Multi-award-winning broadcast journalist Jason Hibbs has five years of TV News Reporting experience, nearly two years of newsroom management experience, and multiple awards from every year in the industry. The recognition ranges from investigative reporting, to breaking news, and severe weather coverage. Hibbs has worked in markets across the country and has covered (and uncovered) a variety of memorable stories; a fire department who refused to put out a house fire, a hidden community of homeless people, and a self-proclaimed Islamic activist scamming a non-English-speaking Muslim community who wanted a Mosque.
As a hiring manager in the newsroom, Hibbs says he was bothered by the number of recent college graduates lacking basic news writing and production skills. He set out to make a difference by educating media professionals of the future. In class, he emphasizes objectivity in reporting and encourages students to look beyond the story basics, and search for the “real people” impacted by the news of the day.
While you won’t see Hibbs on air during UT:10, you can catch him on WGTE Public Media after UT:10 airs. Along with Department Chair Doctor Ben Myers, he hosts Rocket Talk, a weekly program featuring UToledo experts researching areas making news and headlines across the country..
As a hiring manager in the newsroom, Hibbs says he was bothered by the number of recent college graduates lacking basic news writing and production skills. He set out to make a difference by educating media professionals of the future. In class, he emphasizes objectivity in reporting and encourages students to look beyond the story basics, and search for the “real people” impacted by the news of the day.
While you won’t see Hibbs on air during UT:10, you can catch him on WGTE Public Media after UT:10 airs. Along with Department Chair Doctor Ben Myers, he hosts Rocket Talk, a weekly program featuring UToledo experts researching areas making news and headlines across the country..
Technical Advisor:
Kevin O'Korn
Kevin O'Korn returned to his alma mater in January 2016 to be the Production Studio Coordinator for the Department of Communication. He earned his Communication degree from The University of Toledo in 2001 with an emphasis on broadcast journalism and production. His love for broadcast television began when his mentor, the late Don Reiber, asked him to run camera for the University's Coaches Show, Rocket Replay. Kevin became the first student to produce and executive produce the weekly sports show that aired on WTVG ABC 13. After graduation, Kevin worked at WNWO NBC 24, where he worked his way up from Live Truck Operator to Producer of the NBC 24 Today morning newscast. In 2005, Kevin and his family moved to Orlando, Florida where he was a producer at WOFL FOX 35 and WKMG News 6 (Orlando's CBS Affiliate). His nickname at WKMG was "The One Man Newsroom" because he was cross trained in every newsroom position and served in those roles at one time or another. People questioned Kevin about why he would want to leave sunny Florida and return to Ohio and the answer was simple, The University of Toledo holds a dear place in his heart. He wanted to return to continue the legacy left behind after the passing of Don Reiber and help develop the talent of television's next generation of reporters, photojournalists, and producers.
