January 18, 2010 - Geneva College
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January 18, 2010

Picture of January 18, 2010

Richard Klindworth '01 working in the broadcasting industry.

By Noah Stansbury ‘10

Richard Klindworth ′01 was a broadcast communications major at Geneva College, but his main focus was baseball. “It was the love of my life. I wanted to go pro,” he says.

With graduation on the horizon, Rich tried out to advance into a professional league. When that didn't come together, he fell back on working as a recruiter for his uncle′s sales company. He didn't find any fulfillment in his work and felt like he had hit a dead end. Then several relatives pointed out his talent for public speaking.

Along with baseball, radio had always been one of Rich′s passions. He would listen to talk radio every day on his hour long bus ride to and from school, and in college he hosted a show on Geneva′s radio station.

“I absolutely loved it but never really talked to anyone else about that desire,” he says.

Rich decided to explore a career in broadcast journalism. He applied for a job working one day a week at a local radio station in Butler, Pennsylvania. In addition to his regular responsibilities, he took it upon himself to cover the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. By 2003 he was working at a television station in Denison, Texas. After two years there he took a position in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and he is now an anchor/reporter for a local television affiliate in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

During the week, Rich is a writer, reporter and editor, shaping his own stories for air on that night′s broadcast. On Saturdays and Sundays, he shifts gears to work as producer and anchor for the station′s weekend show.

“I'm what I call a ‘one-man-symphony,′” he says. On the weekend, he typically works from 3 or 4 a.m. until 12 or 1 p.m. After choosing and ordering stories for the show, he anchors during the 8 a.m. hour. “It′s like juggling,” he says. And as a Christian, Rich strives to reflect Christ in the way he develops each story. “I have to make sure my pieces are unbiased, which can be tough. My job is to report the news, not make a name for myself at someone else′s expense.”

Rich′s life has taken some unexpected twists and turns, but now he can see God′s calling in it all. “God directs my path,” he says. “And if it wasn't for Geneva, I wouldn't be where I am today. I guarantee that much.”

Jan 18, 2010