MSUM Alum Produces his own Segment at Valley News Live

Erick George, a native of Battle Lake, Minn., was a triple major and minor during his three and a half years at MSUM. He got degrees in multimedia journalism, broadcast journalism and political science. He also minored in mass communication, photojournalism and advertising and public relations. Now, he is the producer of The Valley Today at Valley News Live and is sharing his own segment on former presidents, "The Countdown to 47."

Erick found the perfect fit at MSUM when he looked for a challenging curriculum, with projects that he could tackle to expand his knowledge and creativity.

"MSUM is a place where you can foster your professional self and build career skills that'll last your lifetime," Erick says.

Erick's mom suggested that he go into journalism, due to his interest in writing and news. However, another of his passions was politics, specifically presidential history. He found a hobby in reading the historical context and how presidents became leaders of our nation.

Aaron Quanbeck, professor of the School of Communication and Journalism, and Paul Kramer, professor of economics, law and politics, were able to combine Erick's interests in communication and politics, advising him to take the best path to accomplish three degrees.

"Erick is very talented, driven, and just an overall nice person. He is an asset to any team he's a part of," Aaron says.

During his time at MSUM, Erick recalls the support and influence of the communication department. He credits Chris Walker, an associate professor in journalism, as a standout mentor who continues to be part of his life today.

"Erick's aptitude, talent and intellect will allow him to continue advancing throughout his career," Chris says.

Erick was involved in Campus News, as a reporter, photographer, news anchor and producer. "He excelled in the producer role and helped create a positive atmosphere that inspired the reporters and photographers on his team to produce high-quality work," Aaron says.

After graduation, Erick debated between going into print media or TV. But his experience in Campus News and Alix Larsen, another MSUM alum, recommended him to work at Valley News Live.

Now, he is the producer of the morning program The Valley Today, usually working overnight shifts. Erick follows up previous stories, listens to the scanner for breaking news, and communicates with reporters out in the field and in the newsroom.

Work in a newsroom can be difficult, depending on the shifts and amount of time involved in production. However, Erick finds it rewarding when people from the community thank him for covering news that has an impact on their lives.

His most recent project is "The Countdown to 47", a segment where he highlights one former president every day and tells how they became presidents. The idea grew from casual conversations with coworkers, who were captivated by his depth of knowledge on the topic. Erick is known for his presidential history trivia at work.

"Presidential history always fascinates me. It was a lot of fun developing this section with my coworkers," Erick says.

Reflecting on his career, Erick remarks on the importance of putting full effort into projects. "You have to not be afraid of hard work because you'll get out of your career what you put into it," Erick advises. "Remain loyal to what you believe and keep your integrity."

You can watch "The Countdown to 47" around 6:15 a.m. every day on Valley Today or at Erick George (valleynewslive.com).