#PittsburghMe: Meet Don Noel Ranasinghe, Broadcast Production Major and U-View Programming Director

Meet Don Noel Ranasinghe

Major: B.A., Broadcast Production and Media Management
Expected graduation: May 2017
Hometown: Born in Sri Lanka and then moved to the States when I was 10 years old
High school: Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Ill.

Why did you choose to come to Point Park?

I chose to come to Point Park mainly because I wanted to go to school out of state. I transferred here from Chicago because I wanted to attend a school in a smaller city. Also, I wanted a smaller school because I value one-on-one connections with professors.

What makes going to Point Park for your major different from other colleges?

Broadcast production students get hands-on experience from day one and there are countless opportunities to put in the work. Point Park has amazing full-time and part-time professors who want you to succeed and will help you.

What do you like most about going to school in the city?

What I like most about going to school in the city, especially a small city like Pittsburgh, is the fact that everyone knows everyone and you only have to walk a few blocks to get whatever you need.

What activities are you involved with at Point Park?

I am mainly involved with Point Park University's campus TV station, U-View. I am the programming director for U-View, which means I am responsible for scheduling our shows that air each week. I also produce online content such as behind-the-scenes videos and promotional videos for other clubs and organizations at Point Park. I also co-produce our morning news/talk show, Daybreak, which we shoot on Thursday nights and air Mondays.

Who is your favorite person at Point Park?

My favorite person here at Point Park would have to be Paul Coatsworth. Besides hiring me to work for him, he has taught me so much about the business. He saw potential in me and has guided me in the right direction. This man is a television expert with years of experience in the business. Paul motivates and encourages you, all while keeping it real.

Tell us about the internships you've had so far.

I have had two production internships and both were over the summer of 2015.

I interned for the United Steelworkers New Media Department as a production intern. I did everything from setting up a portable studio to shooting and editing corporate videos. I got to cover a rally for the first time and it was an experience I will never forget. I also made tons of connections through that internship.

Additionally, I interned for the Washington Wild Things and Pennsylvania Rebellion as a production assistant. I worked all of their baseball and softball games. I gained hands-on experience from running camera out on the field to working the switcher inside the control room. I also helped out with producing online content.

I landed both of these production internships because of Paul Coatsworth.

How has going to school at Point Park prepared you for your future career?

The professors here at Point Park tell you how it is in the real world. They do NOT sugarcoat anything. I appreciate that more than anything, especially since many of the professors are still working in the business while teaching.

#PittsburghMe: Meet Don Noel Ranasinghe, Broadcast Production Major and U-View Programming Director Monday, April 11, 2016