John Skrada — TV Truck Owner, Broadcast Operations & Why the Journey Is the Point
John Skrada teaching ENG camera setup to Ashland University students. The journey continues in the classroom. Photo Credit: John Skrada. Used with permission.
John Skrada didn’t plan a broadcast production career. He signed up for a TV class at Cleveland State because his buddy Dan Sevic said it looked fun, and the rest followed from there, camera operator, editor, replay operator, director, TV truck co-owner, and now Director of Broadcast Operations at Ashland University.
In this episode John traces every step of that journey and shares the one thing he tells every student who sits in front of him: it’s not where you end up that matters, it’s how you got there.
Why It Matters
John’s career is proof that curiosity and saying yes consistently build something nobody could have planned from the start. He didn’t set out to own a TV truck or teach at a university. He just kept learning the next thing in the room he was already in. For anyone early in a media career wondering if they’re on the right path, John’s answer is simple: the journey is the path.
About This Guest
John Skrada is Director of Broadcast Operations for the Journalism and Digital Media Department at Ashland University, where he has taught for 14 years. He is also co-owner of S&S Productions, operators of a small multi-camera TV truck producing live sports content for FanDuel Sports Network. His career spans camera operation, editing, replay operation, directing, and production company ownership, built one opportunity at a time through a network that traces directly back to Dan Sevic, Steve Warren, and the Cleveland Indians scoreboard room in the mid-1990s.
John’s Bonafides
“
It’s the journey when you talk to somebody. Everybody has a different story in how they got there. It’s not where they’re at right now. It’s how did you get there? That’s the interesting thing — everybody’s story is so different.
”— JOHN SKRADA, DIRECTOR OF BROADCAST OPERATIONS, ASHLAND UNIVERSITYHear This Episode
Watch Here
Episode Timestamps
Your ZoomPod — Exit Ticket
After this episode, you'll know:
- Why the journey matters more than the destination when building a media production career
- How saying yes to one unfamiliar role, like replay on 20 minutes notice, opens doors you couldn’t have planned
- What it means to keep learning the current technology even after you’ve mastered your primary role
- Why owning a production company and teaching at a university aren’t two separate careers — they feed each other
Gear & Affiliate Links
Trick out your kit, and your wardrobe. Both Adorama and SmallRig are having sales right now. Or wear your photography mood, grab a ZWOF set-wear tee shirt. If you use a ZWOF link, we may earn a small commission that doesn’t increase the price of your item.
Explore More
Check out our other great podcast episodes. Link and follow for more great learn-photography content: IG @tvcommandomedia | FB @ZoomWithOurFeet.
John built his career by showing up, saying yes, and moving closer to every opportunity that appeared. Same principle applies behind any camera.
Stop Shooting From the Stands →BUILD NOTE: Full transcript pending paste-in from Buzzsprout.
More From John
