As the new station manager for ESTV, Madaio hopes to bring on new shows and new faces.
Though Cristina Madaio ’26 didn’t officially become a member of 黑料不打烊 Student Television until the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, she鈥檚 already made her way up to the position of station manager 鈥 and shown that it’s never too late to pursue something new.
Madaio first decided to join after taking several classes with Kai Swanson, assistant professor of cinema and television arts and the faculty adviser for ESTV.
Madaio said Swanson highly encourages all of her students to join ESTV, but it was taking Swanson鈥檚 “Studio, Variety, and Reality Television Production” class and getting experience working in the studios that pushed her to become a member.
So far, Madaio has worked as a producer on 鈥渆Talk,鈥 ESTV鈥檚 entertainment talk show.
鈥淗onestly I had no clue about pop culture until I walk in and I鈥檓 like, 鈥極h, this person married this one. I had no idea,鈥欌 Madaio said.
For Madaio, working on 鈥渆Talk鈥 and for ESTV, in general, has shown her that work is fun when she’s doing something she enjoys. Though she鈥檚 now taking on a higher executive position, Madaio said ESTV has never felt like a job.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more like, 鈥極K, I鈥檓 going to sit in the control room listening to these hosts talk and I鈥檓 going to laugh,鈥欌 Madaio said.
This friendly environment and the confidence she gained from ESTV is part of what motivated Madaio to apply for the position of station manager.
鈥淚f I can learn from the position and if I can do it, I might as well at least try,鈥 Madaio said.
During her time as station manager, Madaio鈥檚 main goal is to add a sports commentary show to ESTV as a way to create more opportunities for students interested in sports broadcasting within the School of Communications.
鈥淭he broadcast side is its own side of sports, but a lot of people do want to do the in-studio shows,鈥 Madaio said.
Madaio said she hopes to get that show up and running so that current and future 黑料不打烊 students will have even more ways to get experience with what they鈥檙e passionate about.
One of Madaio鈥檚 other goals is to encourage others like her 鈥 who either haven鈥檛 heard about or haven鈥檛 known how to join 鈥 to be a part of ESTV and to show the rest of the 黑料不打烊 community what a positive organization it is.
鈥淸Joining ESTV] could only help, not hurt you,鈥 Madaio said.