By: Jen Richardson
Bangor, ME – What happens when you accept each challenge, and seize every opportunity you see? Just ask Jack Hilton, a NESCom Student set to graduate this May. Born in Montreal, Canada to a family of famous boxers, Hilton has seen a lot. After his Uncle Arturo was murdered, he saw how media can slander someone and twist stories. This is what drove Hilton to become a reporter, not only to solve his Uncle’s story, but also to, as Hilton says, “Give voice to the voiceless.”
His family soon moved to Miami, Florida where his mother worked day and night to provide for her four children. Hilton knew that the routine life he was living in Florida is not where he wanted to stay for college. He wanted a hands-on program where he could really study what he was interested in. He received a brochure in the mail for The New England School of Communications in Bangor, Maine. Though other schools caught his eye, Jackie says “Maine kind of called out to me. It was definitely a God sent.”
It was in his very first semester that he met Jeffrey Hope, NESCom teacher and professional journalist. Hope has seen Hilton through all four years of college, and acknowledges his hard work and commitment to professionalism.
“His basic personality is he’s very friendly and very outgoing… That’s been him since day one.” A job in journalism certainly requires individuals to go outside of their comfort zone and talk to people they wouldn’t on a regular basis. Hilton had this skill coming into college. Hope also sees how Hilton’s personality helped him land a job at Fox Bangor, months before graduation following an internship.
“He starts being proactive and says ‘what can I do?’” As Hope is teaching in his career prep class this semester, Hilton is solving the company’s problem by being versatile and getting done anything thrown his way.
This sentiment is echoed by his boss at Fox 22 and ABC 7 Bangor, News Director, Craig Colson, “ I think it was the combination of his great attitude and a thirst for becoming a serious journalist that prompted me to consider hiring him as a reporter… I have found over the years that one needs to be passionate about the business and telling stories to be successful in tv news. Jack definitely has it.”
It was not always an easy road at NESCom, in fact at times Hilton questioned his desire to be a journalist at all. It wasn’t until he took a marketing class that he truly realized he was meant to be a reporter. After this, it was pedal to the metal to find a job, and make it work. Hilton credits a lot of his success to his education at NESCom, “I am blessed to have gone to NESCom because of the fact that I learned a lot of hands on training. Truly, I felt that I was ahead of the game entering into my internship. Don’t get me wrong, you do have to still learn new ways of doing things but it was a big help for sure.” He also credits his teachers for pushing him in the right direction, and helping him discover his true passions, “I probably would still be questioning where I was headed.”
Hilton also participated in the on campus news report, NESCom Connections all four years of school. Originally the teacher involved was Mark Kelley, when he left the school Hope stepped in. The program is tied to a class year round in which students are required to participate, but any student is welcome to come back and play a role. “That is the proactive student that realizes they need to be a part of it to increase their skill levels, and he’s done that consistently.”
Hilton thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the program, when asked what his favorite school experience was, it was the first thing out of his mouth. “It was the only time where I didn’t have to do anything for a grade. I was able to do something that I loved without it being another pressure of school.”
Colson has seen many NESCom grads come through the station, “We’ve been very luck with our relationship with Nescom. We’ve hired many students from there over the years. The majority of them work in production and it’s clear they are getting a great education. Most of them come out of the school ready to perform. In fact, some of them know more about the modern technology and techniques than many of us who have been in the business for decades.” But Hilton is again, unique, “Jack is the first reporter we’ve hired, but one of many who have come through the Nescom program.”
Hilton has only been with FOX/ABC Team for a short time, but is already enjoying himself and making a great contribution.
“At this point, he’s off to a great start and I have no question he’ll have a long career.” Colson says.
Hilton was married just last December, and has signed a two-year contract with the Bangor station, which will keep him, his wife, and two birds in the area for a while.
“I’m just so proud of him, I’m so pleased, and I’m also glad that he’s willing to stay around here for two years.” Hope said. Hope has used Hilton as a resource and a success story to motivate other students to pursue internships in their field.
In the next five to ten years Hilton hopes to be back in Florida, “I want to be near my family members again. I have spent a long time without them and have missed so much of them growing up. I would love to be working at Local 10 News in Fort Lauderdale. It’s been my dream since I have began this journey!”
The future looks bright for this soon to be NESCom grad!
