Wallingford Man, 4Cs Member Wins Kudos From HCC Grad, Community Talk-Show Host

By George A. Ariel

BRIDGEPORT – When Milford resident and community television talk-show co-host Fred Cilbrith received his communications degree from Housatonic Community College earlier this summer, it was a milestone in his pursuit of a career in journalism.

It was a milestone, he said, that Congress of Connecticut Community College (4Cs) member Anson Smith of Wallingford helped him achieve.

Cilbrith, who co-hosts the groundbreaking Sound View Television talk show “Keeping It Real” with longtime friend Dave King of Bridgeport, always wanted to be a writer. “To do this, I felt I had to develop my writing skills,” he said, “so, after I graduated from high school, I enrolled at Housatonic to develop those skills.”

At Housatonic, two 4Cs members, retired public relations coordinator Smith and Professor Steve Mark of New Haven, were of immeasurable help to him. “Steve and Anson went the extra mile for me,” he said. “They made all the difference.”

Smith, a former newspaper reporter and editor, volunteered to take him on as an intern in the public relations office and tutor him in journalism. Smith “taught me how to write a journalistically sound article. He taught me the various ways to structure news and feature articles.”

“He was the real-world guy,” Cilbrith added. “He told me that, if I wanted to work in the newspaper business, here’s what I would have to do and here’s how to do it.”

He took two publications and a creative writing course with Mark. “Steve helped me refine my writing skills, critiquing my drafts so I could see how to improve them.” Cilbrith said. “Working with him also helped me develop a strong interest in hard-news writing.”

Mark’s publications classes taught him how to write, edit and lay out hard-news articles, he said. “Here, too, he critiqued my articles to help me improve them.”

“I spent many hours with them one-on-one,” he said. “Whenever I stopped by their offices with a question, they made time for me… and gave me all the extra time I needed. They are to be commended for their commitment to students.”

Ironically, Cilbrith got his first taste of real-world journalism not in the print world he aspired to, but in the electronic media. Several years ago, King landed the Sound View talk show and asked Cilbrith to be his co-host. Cilbrith declined.

Nonetheless, Cilbrith would be with King in the studio when the show was being recorded. One day, when a guest Cilbrith knew was scheduled to appear on the show, King called to say he couldn’t make it. He suggested Cilbrith handle the show.

He did, and did well. Well enough to be offered the co-host spot once again. This time, he accepted.

The show, which has hosted the likes of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, former mayor Bill Finch and mayoral hopeful Mary Jane Foster, focuses on issues important to young people especially those with disabilities. Both Cilbrith and King have disabilities.

The television experience solidified Cilbrith’s interest in writing while opening up new areas of journalistic interest for him: radio and television writing. To continue pursuing his dream, he plans to attend Western Connecticut State University in Danbury in the fall, majoring in journalism and creative writing.

One person who has taken notice of the help Cilbrith received is 4Cs President Bryan Bonina of Bristol. “Kudos to Steve and Anson for the help they gave Fred,” he said. “At a time when public employees have been continuously smeared by the right-wing as drains on the system, they demonstrated a strong commitment to their students and the community they serve.”