Cayuga Community College student Maddox Fraher is using radio shifts, high school football broadcasts and a tourism internship to prepare for a career in media. Fraher, a sophomore in the college's Media Arts: Media Communications program, expects to graduate in December, according to a college profile.
Fraher enrolled in spring 2025 and joined the Radio and Television Guild, which she said helped her meet students with similar interests outside her classes. She chose Cayuga partly for its financial aid, proximity to home and media programs.
After her first semester, Fraher qualified for and joined WDWN, Cayuga's student-run radio station. She now works on air Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, gaining practice with the routines and equipment of a radio operation.
Experience beyond the studio
Fraher also worked on the college's weekly fall broadcasts of high school football games on Spectrum. In her first year, she worked alongside freelance crew members as she learned different production tasks. This fall, she has taken on replay duties.
ORANGE GAME DAY: Syracuse football returns from bye week for road matchup against UConn (preview) She said the football work was daunting at first because each week brought a new assignment. Running replay has given her a chance to develop a more specific skill, she said, and she has already noticed progress after the first few games of the season.
Before the fall semester, Fraher completed an internship at Tour Cayuga, the agency that promotes Cayuga County tourism. She said the work let her apply creative and production skills and strengthened her confidence.
Fraher has not settled on her next step after graduation. She is considering a bachelor's degree, but said she may first seek a media job to learn which role suits her best.
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