Pleased to meet you!
I’m Ray Milburn — a journalism and computer science major at Ithaca College in New York. My final year of college is fast approaching, but I’m fortunate enough to say that these past few years have been the most thrilling and busy of my life. Here’s how I spent them:
Work Experience
When I arrived in Ithaca, I began working for Ithaca College’s award-winning student newspaper — The Ithacan — as a photographer and copy editor. After a semester, I started using Canon DSLR and cinema cameras to produce weekly video content for The Ithacan, and started using Adobe Audition, Photoshop and InDesign in my weekly workflow (in addition to Premiere Pro, which I’ve used almost daily for years). In 2023, I experimented with 360° video content using a GoPro Max.
I was hired as a Video Editor for The Ithacan, where I would grow the video section from a quartet to an 18-person team. My two years as Video Editor were my pride and joy. I was given opportunities to instruct students in basic video journalism skills, attend conferences, accept awards on behalf of my teammates and friends, and meet some of the coolest people in New York. My resume outlines everything my team and I were able to achieve, but I’m most proud of how I was able to grow The Ithacan’s video and social media presence, establish a strong digital brand, and build a video department that will continue to thrive after I graduate from the college.
During the summer of my sophomore year, I had the pleasure of interning with GBH News — New England’s largest public media foundation. I was raised on TV programs produced by GBH, and working in their newsroom was the joy of a lifetime. I worked with their Digital Video team, producing content for network TV and the many GBH digital platforms (their website, YouTube, and social media). I honed my skills behind and in front of the camera, and in the editing bay. Most of all, I was able to commute from my home in Sandwich, Massachusetts to the beautiful (and chaotic) city of Boston, and I reported on stories that impacted its people.
After completing a second year as The Ithacan’s Video Editor, I departed Ithaca to spend a semester studying in Sydney, Australia. As part of my study abroad program, I interned at James Agency — a creative ad agency in the heart of another beautiful city about 9,800 miles from Boston. Getting some distance from my roots in journalism allowed me to develop some all-new skills. I spent many hours working in Adobe InDesign, creating graphics and presentations for clients. I used After Effects to build motion graphics for social media, and I learned how to write copy for client brochures and websites. Looking for a bit of familiarity, I also edited many videos in Premiere Pro (my bread and butter).
Before College
Prior to attending Ithaca College, I was executive producer of Knight Life, Sandwich High School’s flagship TV news program in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Alongside my classmates, I earned six New England Scholastic Press Awards for my work with the Sandwich High School broadcast journalism program. At Knight Life, I became proficient in the use of Canon camcorders, Sony mirrorless cameras, wireless and wired audio equipment, and BlackMagic studio cameras. I also broadcasted using multi-camera live events for my local TV station, Sandwich Community Television.
Not for nothing, I also worked in a very peculiar pizza shop since I was 16. To my surprise, I learned more about communication and working under pressure from that job than I did at the notoriously high-octane student newspaper in Ithaca. My sincere thanks to The Brown Jug in Sandwich, MA for all the life lessons and burns on my fingertips.
Ray Milburn 