EYE ON ALUMNI

The Delta Collegiate is pleased to introduce a new feature called “Eye on Alumni” in which we profile Delta College graduates who have found success in any field, locally or worldwide. This week, News Editor Robert Mastroianni catches up with TV-5 Weather Forecaster Eric Jylha.

Eric Jylha is a weather forecaster at WNEM TV-5, where he has worked for 28 years. He started as a TV reporter in 1986 anchoring the weekend newscasts until switching to weather in 1992.

Jylha got his start at Delta College in 1970 after graduating from Bay City Central High School in 1968. Jylha had a different career in mind right after finishing high school.

“When I left high school I was interested in photography, mainly shooting 16mm film,” Jylha said. “But video was on the horizon so I switched to a new technology as a career choice. At the same time I had been working in radio for two years, and that kind of took over.”

Jylha is a second-generation broadcaster and started working in radio at WBCM in Bay City in 1967. When an opening came up for him to go on air, Jylha was ready.

“When I started working in radio it was weekend mornings, playing public service programs, no announcing,” he said. “The usual situation was if you did OK on those first job duties you got a chance to fill in while a disc jockey took a vacation. Once I had a chance to do that, I ended up working 18 years as an announcer before I went to TV-5.”

After Delta, Jylha transferred to Michigan State University where he worked at WILX Channel 10. He said his Delta College experience gave him an advantage over his fellow MSU students because Delta let him use the broadcasting equipment right away.

“Delta’s Channel 19 hired a lot of students to work at the station doing all sorts of tasks (ranging) from studio work to master control,” he said. “Students got a big head start because we were trained on the equipment starting your first day you were hired.”

Delta College carried a lot of clout in his first week on the MSU campus when it came to employment.

“In the first week at MSU, I went to the TV station on campus to visit a friend. There were only two students employed at the station at that time,” he said. “One of them came into the office and quit because of his heavy class load. When the boss said, ‘Where will I find a replacement?’ my friend said, ‘Eric went to Delta,’ and I was hired on the spot. I started the next day working in master control and running the station’s photo darkroom.”

Jylha said he’s glad he chose Delta College to jump start a very successful career in the media.

“Going to Delta was the right choice for all of us going into broadcasting because of this hands-on education,” he said.

“Since then, I have been an eager volunteer because I feel it is a way to say ‘thanks’ for the opportunities Delta gave me,” he said. “(Doing the) pledge drives, Great TV Auction and the annual historical documentaries have been a way for me to pay back Delta College over the years,” he said.

“Delta brought my career plan into focus, gave me a well rounded education and set me up for success,” Jylha said.

To nominate someone for “Eye on Alumni” contact robertmastroianni@delta.edu