Jim Goodmon, Board Chair and CEO at Capitol Broadcasting Company, created the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 program in the fall of 1998 to provide area youth with a positive and productive way to spend their summer and to gain exceptional experience in the field of television broadcasting.
Explorer Post 50 is a youth-based television broadcasting program that provides students ages 14-20 with an invaluable opportunity to explore a career in television, gain hands-on experience, develop leadership skills, learing to work under pressure, teamwork, and much more.
Explorer Post 50 is responsible for the live television broadcasts of all home Durham Bulls baseball games throughout Durham Bulls Athletic Park, WNGT 34.1 WRAL Sports +, Spectrum Cable and MiLB.com, as well as providing highlights for FOX 50 and WRAL news programs.
All Explorer Post 50 members have the opportunity to learn the following positions:
- Audio Technician
- Camera Operation
- Director
- Graphics Coordinator
- Graphics Operator
- Producer
- Replay Operator
- Technical Director
- Video (Camera Control Units/CCU)
The Explorer Post is designed to make every opportunity a learning opportunity. While we take great pride in teaching the skills needed to produce a television broadcast, we believe our greatest responsibility is to mold our young people into well-adjusted, productive, responsible individuals.
Membership
Explorer Post 50 is a coed program for students, ages 14-20, who have completed the 8th grade. Membership is limited and requires the completion of an application, an interview, and participation in training sessions before being accepted into the program. Note that this is an unpaid internship.
Interested in learning more and potentially becoming part of the television crew? Please complete this interest form and we will contact you when the next Open House is scheduled and online application is available for the next season.
Affiliation: Learning for Life
Explorer Post 50 is a part of a large learning organization called Learning For Life.
Sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, Learning for Life is an educational program designed to meet the needs of youth and schools. It helps youth meet the challenge of growing up by teaching character and good decision-making skills and then linking those skills to the real world.
Developed by professional educators and child-development experts, the Learning for Life curriculum has three basic components: school-based learning, connecting activities, and work-based learning. Combined, these components provide a structure through which youth learn the value of respect and responsibility while discovering a world of career opportunities.
To see more about Learning for Life, please visit www.Learning-For-Life.org.
Student Testimonials
"When I joined Post 50 I learned the basics of sports broadcasting and made incredible friendships that gave me that confidence to pursue my goals of working in the sports broadcasting field. I've since done hockey, baseball, football and many other events and now I have moved to local television operations. I have only started to scratch the surface of the opportunities that await me because of Explorer Post 50."
Melissa Oates Heilicser - Member (1999-2004), Advisor (2005-2008)
- WRAL-TV5 Broadcast Operator (2005-Present)
- Carolina School of Broadcasting Graduated 2004
- C. E. Jordan High School Graduated 2002
"Being a part of Post 50 was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It gave me experience in broadcast production that ended up getting me a job at WRAL-TV"
Charlotte McKinney - Member (1999-2001), Advisor (2009-Present)
- Meredith College, Video and Multimedia Designer (2012-present)
- Durham Public Schools Video Technician (2005-2012)
- University of North Carolina at Asheville Graduated 2005
"Working for Post 50 was a great experience that led me to pursuing a career in sports media. With the hands-on training I got at Post 50, I was doing things in high school that my third year college production classes haven't begun to cover"
Erin Compton - Member (2003-2004), Producer (2005)
- Miami Football Video Assistant (2006-Present)
- University of Miami (2005-Present)
- C. E. Jordan High School Graduated 2005
"Not only did Post-50 teach me about broadcasting baseball, the program also taught me about being a leader, and having confidence in myself. In a two-year span, I went from running camera, to producing broadcasts that were reaching millions of homes. The contacts I made at Post-50 also helped me land my job with ESPN. I have no doubt I would not be where I am without my experience at Post-50."
Robin Segreti - Member (2002-2003), Producer (2004)
- Production Assistant at ESPN Regional (2007 - Present)
- N.C. State Football Video Staff (2002-2007)
- North Carolina State University Graduated 2006
- Enloe High School Graduated 2002
"Explorer Post 50 has taught me the skills and concepts it takes to work high-profile events, such as Showtime: Mayweather vs. Guerrero, NHL on NBC: 2013 Stanley Cup Final, NBC Cycling: 2013 Tour de France and NFL on CBS: 2014 Divisional Playoffs. None of these opportunities would have happened if it weren't for Explorer Post 50; however, the best thing that the program teaches is the teamwork and leadership skills that our members use in everyday life. No other program in the world comes close to what Post 50 offers."
Rob Rowe Member (2008-2010), PIT Crew (2011), Executive Producer (2012), Advisor (2013-Present)
- Duke University Athletics, Blue Devil Network & Information Technology (2009-13, 2014-Present)
- SMT, Remote Operations Technician (2013-2014)
- USA Baseball, Multimedia Coordinator (2011)
- Kestrel Heights School Graduated 2011
Bob Grissom Member (2000-2004), Producer (2005-2006)
- Golf Channel Master Control Operator (2012-present)
- ESPN Stage Manager (2011-2012)
- ESPN Master Control Op (2007-2011)
- CSTV and Comcast Sports Southeast Freelance Camera Op (2004-2007)
- East Carolina University graduated 2007
- C.E. Jordan High graduated 2003
Getting Involved
Any parent, teacher, or student interested in learning more about Explorer Post 50 is encouraged to contact Ken Bland at [[email protected]](mailto: [email protected]) or 919.946.8899.
Donate Today!
All donations are processed through Triangle Community Foundation
Donate Online:
Use Triangle Community Foundation's online donation center HERE.
Select Choose a Fund and search for "Durham Bulls" or "Explorer Posts"
Fund name is "Durham Bulls/WRAL Explorer Posts Scholarship Fund"
Enter the amount you would like to donate, your information and click Donate Now.
Donate by Check:
You may contribute by check payable to: Triangle Community Foundation
Please note on the memo line of check: "Durham Bulls/Explorer Posts Scholarship Fund"
Mail to:
Triangle Community Foundation
800 Park Offices Dr. Suite 201, Morrisville, NC 27709