SCAN highlights School of Communications alumni who recently landed jobs in their field. Jason Gatewood (BA, Media Communications, Japanese minor, 2004) is a content editor for The Rail Network in Atlanta. The company installs, maintains and provides content for multimedia systems onboard mass transit systems.



SCAN: When did you realize this was the career for you?
Jason Gatewood: I’ve been in media, specifically video creation, since I was 14 years old, when I worked for Continental Cable of Inglewood, Calif., taping high school sporting events and editing public access shows after school.

SCAN: How did you land your job?
JG: I answered an ad on Monster.com. The Internet does work for job listings and I have gotten more jobs in the past via Monster, HotJobs.com and more. They called me … four months later. I had forgotten what the position was even for!

SCAN: Any advice for those looking for a job?
JG: Don’t settle and don’t give up. I remember being at a conference in New York where a guy that works for WCBS-AM said, “If you want to be on the air, then start off being on the air … even if that means being on the air in Tillamook, Wash., population 500. You’re still on the air and you can only go up from there.” If there are no opportunities, create one.

SCAN: Any classes you wish you would’ve taken at Webster but didn’t?
JG: I really wish I could’ve taken more CompSci classes. In my job now, I also have to run some automated computer scripts to get the systems to broadcast automatically. I knew Linux programming as a hobby, but if I knew more, I might be able to do my job a little quicker.



SCAN: Best on-the-job experience so far?
JG: Everyday is my best … My job is fun and I work with a group of cool people. It’s like I come to work just to play all day, but I get paid every two weeks for it!

SCAN: Company you’d kill to work for?
JG: The Associated Press, Reuters, CNN. I would love to be in one of the Asian bureaus of these networks. I studied in Japan for a stint, and I really enjoy that side of the world.

SCAN: Person you most admire in your field?
JG: I most admire Tom Brokaw. Here is a man that pulled himself up and became a modern day Ed Murrow. He was a newsman that made sure no matter what, the truth will outshine and overcome darkness. He would put himself in dangerous situations because that was where the truth lay. Isn’t that what true journalism is all about — letting the story tell itself without any filters?

SCAN: Best way to fuel creativity?
JG: A Bloody Mary and an order of garlic spicy hot wings. When that doesn’t work, then some meditation and getting away from technology for a second. All these computers, cell phones and iPods are cool, but sometimes I need to hear the wind, waterfalls and other natural sounds.

SCAN: What’s on your desk right now?
JG: Three Dual processor PCs running Adobe Premiere Pro, five monitors, two plasma screen monitors, three remotes and the office telephone.



SCAN: Favorite fringe benefit of your job?
JG: Lately there’s always a birthday, baby shower or some important meeting in our offices that causes a lot of catering or office parties to happen. Just last week I had a $60 prime rib dinner for free because it was a co-worker’s baby shower.

SCAN: Is your current salary more or less than you expected to be making at this point?
JG: It’s a little less, but not by much. The benefits outweigh the miniscule difference by a long shot.

SCAN: What's on your iPod?
JG: I have no iPod! I carry my music on my Treo 650 in a 2-gig SD card. I’m rockin the DangerDoom LP right now. I also have the new SoulHead (a Japanese R&B duo).

SCAN: Any bumper stickers on your car?
JG: I drive a Scion xB and I’m in a car club called Scinergy, so I have vinyl graphics on my rear window that rocks the club logo. I also have various company logos of the parts that are on my car right now. (Hookin’ up rides is my hobby.) I did keep the Webster University Alumni tag frame from my old car and it’s on my xB now. When I get back to St Louis, I’m gonna get a Gorlok sticker, too..

SCAN: Last movie you saw?
JG: Serenity. It’s just like the old Star Wars movies are in terms of action and character interaction … but with today’s technology in the special-effects department.

SCAN: Thing you miss most about Webster?
JG: Getting to see my friends all the time, including my professors. I miss them all, but without them I wouldn’t be here.

Did you just land a job in your field? E-mail scan@webster.edu and tell us about it.

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• Words from the Dean

• Andrea Dylewski ’00
  Photography

• Working Without a Net: Making a Career as a Freelancer
• Don’t Call It a Yearbook: Student Magazine Continues to Shine

• David Callahan ’04
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• Jason Gatewood ’04
  Media Communications
• Meredith Nilges ’04
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