History

When Jimmy Young hosted “Kid Company’s SportsWorld,” New England Cable News’ Emmy award-winning sports talk show for kids in the mid-1990s, he never dreamed where the idea would ultimately lead. But 15 years later, Young, a 30-year veteran of New England sports media, had the impetus to found a broadcasting school for kids ages 10-18, with the goal of developing their interpersonal communication skills, both on and off camera.

Young had the inspiration to found the company in the fall of 2007, while he was working for the Boston Globe. Within the year, he had a business plan, a location at the corner of Speen St. and Pond St. in Natick, and all the high-tech equipment necessary to successfully train “tomorrow’s stars.” Young opened his doors as Young Sportscasters of America (later changed to Young Broadcasters of America in June 2009, to reflect interest and instruction in other areas of broadcast media, including entertainment and weather) on October 5, 2008, and immediately garnered rave reviews for his ingenuity.

“I’ve lost count of the number of people who have told me that they wished this kind of program existed when they were kids,” said Young. “We are happy to be able to provide this opportunity for today’s young people. We are thrilled about the things we have been able to do so far, and we are just as excited about what we hope to accomplish.”

YBA’s mission is clear: Use a fun, interactive and educational learning environment to provide invaluable, transferable, oral communication training to a generation of young people more comfortable using text messages, e-mails and Google chat as their primary means of communication. At YBA, the techniques taught and the skills cultivated breed dramatic improvement in poise, confidence, self-esteem, and proper use of the English language – abilities that will serve the students well in any walk of life that they might choose.

The curriculum includes both technical instruction and practical application of the skills learned, using a three-tier system. In Tier 1, YBA students are trained in a variety of broadcasting staples, including talking on camera, voiceovers, interviewing, hosting a talk show, public address announcing, TV production and weathercasting. Tier 2 features instruction in videography, video editing, live remote reporting, and sports play-by-play and concludes with the production of a resume tape for each participant. Once mastered, the aspiring broadcasters are able practically apply these skills using YBA’s fully-equipped studio set. Upon completion of Tier 2, trainees are eligible to appear on a YBA talk show, which broadcast live to the internet six nights per week and live on the radio five nights per week. The current lineup includes two sports shows, “Back Talk” and “K Sports Sunday,” and an entertainment show, “Trendy Teen TV.” A new video game show is in production, and is expected to be added to YBA’s talk show lineup in September, 2009. The third and final tier is reserved for individual production in whichever aspect of broadcast journalism the student is most interested.

YBA students not only learn a broad spectrum of skills, they learn from the best in the business. Young’s lineup of instructors reads as a “who’s who” of Boston media personalities. Sports media guru Jimmy Myers and WCVB Sportscenter 5’s Bob Halloran are mainstays. Former Boston Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster, Jerry Trupiano and NECN meteorologist, Joe Joyce, join Young’s staff of regulars in September, 2009, when YBA launches its fall program.

“The opportunity to learn from some of the biggest names in the industry is a tremendous benefit to our students,” said Young. “But maybe even more important, is our instructors’ previous experience working with kids. Our teachers all have been parents, youth sports coaches, and volunteers in their community. YBA instructors understand what it takes to appeal to this age group, and they relish the chance to share their vast knowledge of the industry with a new generation.”

In addition to YBA’s full-time instructors, media guests have included Boston Globe sports writers Mike Reiss and Tony Massarotti, Sports Illustrated writer Pablo Torre, NECN’s Chris Collins, ESPN.com’s Jennifer Williams, Boston Celtics radio analyst Cedric Maxwell and New England Patriots radio play-by-play man, Gil Santos. YBA students have had the privilege of conducting on-camera interviews with Red Sox second baseman and reigning American League MVP Dustin Pedroia, Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork, former Patriots defensive back Ronnie Lippett, former NHL referee Paul Stewart, former Red Sox third baseman Rico Petrocelli, Boston College football analyst Peter Cronan, boxer Vinnie Pazienza and NFL Hall-of-Famer Andre Tippett.

All told, over 50 aspiring broadcasters have honed their communication skills at YBA during the school’s inaugural year. Many kids traveled from long distances, some even from out of state. Their interests range from sports to entertainment, from on-camera anchoring to behind the scenes work. But all students, including several with special needs, showed dramatic improvement in their interpersonal skills and self-confidence over the course of the program.

“The rate at which these kids have soaked up knowledge, developed communication skills, and utilized what they have learned, has been phenomenal,” said Young. “When they head off to college, internships, and eventually into the working world, they are going to have a huge leg up on their competition.”

Despite YBA’s early success, Young believes the best is yet to come. He has entered into agreement with Northeastern University’s Speech, Language, and Pathology department to offer free screenings for all its active members. The Sports Hub 98.5 is currently in talks with YBA about programming possibilities. In addition, YBA will continue to hold open auditions for spots on the live webcasts of their sports, entertainment and gaming shows. Eventually, Young hopes that he will be able to branch out from the Boston area and bring his unique style of communication instruction to major markets across the country.

“I want people to be as excited as I am about what we’re doing here and the potential this training facility has to be something really special,” he said. “We’d love to hear feedback from anybody and everybody with their thoughts, suggestions, and opinions as we look to grow our name and thrive. Just don’t e-mail me – I’d prefer to talk to you face-to-face!”

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cam_neely The set of the Emmy Award Winning Kid Company SportsWorld on NECN in 1997 with special guest NHL Hall of Famer Cam Neely, talking with young reporters Jeff Millman and Lianne Young, no relation to host Jimmy Young, founder of Young Broadcasters of America.

July 7, 2008- YBA founder Jimmy Young at Madison Park HS in Roxbury MA, the first day Young Sportscasters of America was hired to teach communication skills for life as part of Boston Mayor’s Thomas Menino’s Hopeline program.

July 24, 2008-YBA founder Jimmy Young with WCVB TV5’s Bob Halloran at Moody Street Pictures, the first “official” workshop with Melissa Appelstein, Ariana Keigan,, and now TTTv reporter Ellie Berger.