Three years ago, 2010 University of Dayton graduate John Bedell may have tuned into News Center 7 at his house on 228 College Park to catch up on the latest local news of the day.
Now, as a general assignment news reporter for WHIO-TV, he is the one on the screen bringing local news stories to UD students and the greater Dayton area.
Bedell, a Walsh Jesuit High School graduate from Akron, said that UD adequately prepared him for his current job, as well as provided many memories and lasting relationships.
He said his favorite aspect of UD is simply, “the people there … it’s definitely the best decision of my life going there.”
Bedell notices that many alumni agree with him.
“There’s not a college around the country where kids talk as fondly about UD while they’re there and then once it’s their alma mater,” Bedell said. “It’s a great education and it’s a blast going there.”
Along with his class schedule, which produced a degree from UD in communication, Bedell was involved in Flyer News, serving as the assistant sports editor during his junior and senior years, appeared on Flyer TV and hosted a radio show for his four years at UD.
During his senior year, he hosted “The Coaches Roundtable,” a talk show in which he would interview the head coaches of the fall sports.
During his time at UD, Bedell thoroughly enjoyed attending the Flyer basketball games, nights at Milano’s and the house parties in the Ghetto.
Since Bedell has a summer birthday, he turned 21 the summer before junior year and frequented Milano’s on Brown Street during his junior year while living at the Lawnview Apartments.
“I don’t know if it’s just because it was so close, but I got hooked on Milano’s,” he said. “The whole thing was a blast.”
Bedell explained the various opportunities gave him “a lot of practical experience … I was able to hit the ground running [in the professional world].”
“It got me a job, that’s for sure,” he said.
Bedell’s job search his senior year took him from October right up until graduation where he looked at opportunities “all over the place.”
Before signing on with the CBS affiliate WHIO-TV, Bedell interviewed with ESPN and a radio station in Cleveland.
After interviewing for a few different positions, Bedell’s job search ended with a fury of activity.
Bedell interviewed with the news station the Friday before graduation, headed to Daytona for a week for UD’s annual Dayton2Daytona, and then began working with WHIO-TV shortly thereafter.
The perks of the professional world for Bedell include the opportunity to focus strictly on his area of interest.
“I get to just do my major,” Bedell said. “I don’t have to worry about other classes. You’re working in communications every single day.
“It’s nice not to have homework and exams. I’m done with work when I come home for the day.”
Three years out, Bedell has transitioned to the professional world, but said it did require some adjustment at first.
“It was pretty nerve racking the first few months out of school … going out of your comfort zone and the place you’d known for four years,” he said.
After working and living in Dayton for three years outside of the campus bubble, Bedell has grown to know the Miami Valley region.
He recommends Mamma DiSalvo’s in Kettering on 1375 E. Stroop Rd. if one is in need for some “really good home cooking.”
Bedell makes sure that his UD experience is never far away.
“I have a Kiefaber street sign on my desk at work,” Bedell said. “[My coworkers] want to know, ‘What’s Kiefaber?’”
Kate Bartley has worked at News Center 7 with Bedell for nearly two years and said Bedell’s success is not surprising.
“I think he’s a fast learner,” she said. “He’s experienced in radio which has helped him transition well into TV. In today’s age, you have to be experienced in multiple platforms.”
She also said Bedell’s love of UD is pretty evident, as she said UD runs in the Bedell family. Bedell’s younger sister graduated from UD in 2012 and his younger brother is a sophomore at UD.
“He loves UD,” she said. “Everyone knows it. I think he’s really proud of that.”
