On November 15, Cherry Hill West graduate David Grzybowski visited the school and promoted his new book, The Big Story: The Oral History of Philadelphia TV News, to broadcasting and journalism students. Grzybowski graduated from La Salle University in 2013 with a journalism major, with focus on mass media studies, as well as a minor in English. The former Lion now works for his own Philadelphia-based media production company Grzy Media Group.
Grzybowski told his life story to the students and offered his own pieces of advice to them in pursuing their careers. Grzybowski had stayed local to begin his dive into media with a job at PHL17, working behind the scenes as well as doing anchor work. He stated that he did not get a job right out of college, and faced multiple rejections and challenges along the way. Around 2017, he had to move to Raleigh, North Carolina for a job opportunity and covered the championship run of the University of North Carolina’s men’s basketball team. After a year in North Carolina, he went back home to Philadelphia. Grzybowski wrote the 2019 novel Mr All-Around: The Life of Tom Gola, a biography and account on La Salle basketball legend Tom Gola, who the writer has dubbed the “Michael Jordan of La Salle.”
Grzybowski emphasized the idea of “the grind” to the journalism and broadcasting students. In preparation for The Big Story, the writer took four and a half years to take multiple interviews, notably attempting to attain an interview with Philly broadcasting legend Jim Gardner for 16 months. Grzybowski took the experience to share his take on rejection. “You’re going to get rejected a lot,” the writer claimed. “You just gotta keep rolling with the punches.”
Gryzbowski found his way into his journalism interests due to his appreciation of the profession’s story-telling aspect. The field gives “a voice to the voiceless,” in Grzybowski’s words. “Everyone has a story to tell,” the writer states. He believes that the truth of partaking in a good interview and article is the connection made with the interviewee. He believes that you should never go into the hard facts immediately, instead emphasizing building an interpersonal relationship with the subject. “The more you open up to the person,” he stated, “they’ll be able to tell you more things about the subject, they’ll think, ‘this kid’s really cool.’” Comfortability is the key in interviews, according to the media veteran.
The West graduate told a story about how his hard work and forward-thinking paid off not only for him but for his peers. During his senior year of college in 2013, the La Salle men’s basketball team made a huge Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16. The Explorers made their first tournament appearance since 1992, and their first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 1955. Grzybowski and some other La Salle media studies students would join the team in their travels, and they would create a GoFundMe to gain financial support for their travel expenses, a campaign supported by local Philadelphians excited for the Explorers. “I made an experience [for me and my friends],” Grzybowski said, “because I grinded and wanted to make it happen.”
Grzybowski really hammered the grind aspect of media careers to the students. As his story shows, as well as the slow-but-sure production of The Big Story, the “grind” is dawdling, tedious, and daunting. However, the results it leads to in the end are absolutely worth it. The work will not be noticed right away, but it will be glorious. “Don’t worry about the views,” Grzybowski urged. “Worry about just how it looks and the story it tells. The views come secondary.”