John Bedell

BIO

I’ve been with COX Media Group Ohio since April of 2010. I worked as a news anchor, reporter and as the co-host of Flyer Feedback for AM 1290 and 95.7 FM News Talk Radio WHIO before making the switch across the building to work for WHIO-TV full-time in April of 2011. I couldn’t be more excited to join the News Center 7 team!

As a native Northeast Ohioan, I hail from Ohio’s other valley—The Cuyahoga Valley. I was born in Akron and grew up in Stow, Ohio. Many people in the Miami Valley are probably familiar with my high school, Walsh Jesuit. Walsh has developed some great athletic rivalries with many Dayton-area schools like Alter.

Growing up, I wanted to be a pro athlete and play second base for the Cleveland Indians. Around fifth grade, I realized that wasn’t a realistic career path. That’s also when I fell in love with radio and TV—it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do since.

I came to Dayton in the fall of 2006 to study broadcast journalism at The University of Dayton. I graduated Cum Laude from UD in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in electronic media. I also hold a minor in sales management.

I was active with all three campus media outlets at UD. I produced and reported for a weekly campus news and satire show on Flyer TV with a group of my friends—including London Warren as our Op-Ed correspondent—called “The Best of What’s Around”. I was the sports director for 99.5 and 98.1 FM WUDR my senior year.

I was the assistant sports editor for Flyer News (UD’s student-newspaper) my junior and senior years. I was a men’s basketball beat-writer and wrote features and columns year round. My position with Flyer News took me all over the country. Aside from covering road games, I covered the 2008, 2009, and 2010 A-10 Tournaments in Atlantic City; and the 2010 NIT semifinals and finals in New York City. I sat courtside at Madison Square Garden for the title game and watched my Flyers down North Carolina for the NIT Championship. That’s something I’ll never forget.

One thing you have to know about me is that I love sports. I was a two-sport varsity letter winner in high school, running cross country and track. I’m one of the most passionate Cleveland sports fans you’ll ever meet. I live and die with my Indians, Cavs, and Browns. Growing up just two hours north of Columbus, I’m also a huge Ohio State fan. And of course, since going to UD, I’ve become just as passionate about my Flyers. I’m also a huge American history buff. It was always my favorite subject in school. My favorite eras are Revolutionary America, The Civil War and Reconstruction, World War II, and The Vietnam era.

Q & A

Where were you born?

Akron, Ohio

Where did you grow up?

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and Stow, Ohio

What was your favorite TV show then?

Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?

A construction worker.

How might someone have described you in high school?

Extroverted and super involved.

What was your first job?

Lifeguard. What a great summer job!

What was your first job in television?

As a producer at UD’s campus TV station

What do you like about your job?

I’ve always loved feature writing and I get to do that every day at Channel 7. I love meeting people around the Miami Valley and sharing their stories with our viewers.

What do you not like about your job?

Snow stories. I grew up in the Snow Belt so I can handle the white stuff, but I really don’t like winter weather.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I’m a great swimmer. I’ve been a Red Cross certified lifeguard since my sophomore year in high school.

What is the hardest thing you ever did?

Standing in the Humanities Plaza at UD after class one Friday in October my freshman year and listening to my mom tell me over the phone that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. Watching her go through her ensuing battle with cancer was tough too.

What would be a perfect day for you?

Well, I’ve already seen Ohio State win a national title so I have four, in this order: Watching the Browns win the Super Bowl, watching the Indians take Game 7 of the World Series at home, seeing the Cavs win the NBA Finals, and watching the Flyers win the NCAA Tournament.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?

You have to learn how to manage your free time constructively in TV. You’ll learn quickly that the clock is never your friend in this business.