By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

Senior radio broadcasting major Stephen Anderson has taken the concept of networking to the national level.

When he graduates from Southeast Missouri State University next June and goes job hunting, at least Black Entertainment Television will know his name.

Anderson is one of nine finalists in Black Entertainment Television's "VJ For A Day" contest. The winner gets to spend three days and two nights in New York City and be host of a BET show sometime before Dec. 31.

At SEMO, the personable Anderson is a KMXQ FM DJ who calls himself SP. He is the host of "The Morning Mix Show," a combination of hip-hop and urban music with talk.

He describes himself as "an up-tempo type person. The kind of guy you could always take with you after you leave work."

His mission, he says, is to make the predominantly white listeners of his program more aware of what minorities are doing and thinking.

"I'm like the media spokesperson for the little people," he says.

With his entry form, Anderson actually sent BET two views of himself: A mocked-up VJ performance and another idea "hijacked" from MTV. He called it "SEMO Cribs," a takeoff on the MTV program that provides rapid-edit tours of celebrity homes.

His version toured his own crib on Washington Street. He introduced viewers to his bedroom, his roommate's bedroom, each of their cars, the "Scarface" poster in the living room and the television.

"We spend a lot of time watching TV," he explained.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182