Open Post #4 - Tony Kornheiser

       One person I have always looked up to as a sports reporter and analyst has been Tony Kornheiser.  Tony is most famous now a days for his role on the ESPN show Pardon The Interruption (PTI).  He co-hosts the show with fellow partner Michael Wilbon.  Kornheiser and Wilbon debate and talk about all current events in all of the major sports.  PTI has been a catalyst in my desire to pursue the career of sportscasting and sports reporting. 

       Tony Kornheiser first got his shot in the sports world as a reporter for the Washington Post in 1979.  "Kornheiser joined ESPN in November 1997 as host of ESPN Radio’s Tony Kornheiser Show, which premiered January 5, 1998 and continued until March 2004" ("Tony Kornheiser" para. 7).  In 2001, PTI made its debut and continues today.  "From 2006-08, Kornheiser was a booth commentator on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, demonstrating his unique ability to inform and entertain viewers" ("Tony Kornheiser" para. 4).  From this, Korheiser and Wilbon were able to take their show across America to different cities that hosted Monday Night Football.  

       Kornheiser still writes for the Washington Post, however, he is most recognized nationally for his part on  Pardon The Interruption.  He has been a role model to me and a constant example of how someone should conduct himself in the field.  Respected by many, Tony Kornhesier continues to attract many fans because people want to hear what he has to say.  

"Tony Kornheiser." ESPN Media Zone. ESPN MediaZone, 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.        <http://espnmediazone.com/us/bios/kornheiser_tony/>.      

Prompt Post #4 - Code of Ethics

       Every career field, for the most part, has a Code of Ethics it adheres to.  I wanted to find out what the field of sports journalism's Code of Ethics looked like.  I found this from the APSE, Associated Press Sports Editors:

1. The newspaper pays its staffer’s way for travel, accommodations, food and drink.
1. If a staffer travels on a chartered team plane, the newspaper should insist on bring billed. If the team cannot issue a bill, the amount can be calculated by estimating the cost of a similar flight on a commercial airline.
    
2. When services are provided to a newspaper by a pro or college team, those teams should be reimbursed by the newspaper. This includes providing telephone, typewriter or fax service.
    
2. Editors and reporters should avoid taking part in outside activities or employment that might create conflict of interest or even appearance of a conflict.
1. They should not serve as an official scorer at baseball games.
    
2. They should not write for team or league media guides or other team or league publications. This has the potential of compromising a reporter’s disinterested observations.
    
3. Staffers who appear on radio or television should understand that their first loyalty is to the paper.
    
3. Writers and writers’ groups should adhere to APME and APSE standards: No deals, discounts or gifts except those of insignificant value or those available to the public.
1. If a gift is impossible or impractical to return, donate a gift to charity.
    
2. Do not accept free memberships or reduced fees for memberships. Do not accept gratis use of facilities, such as golf courses or tennis courts, unless it is used as part of doing a story for the newspaper.
    
3. Sports editors should be aware of standards of conduct of groups and professional associations to which their writers belong and the ethical standards to which those groups adhere, including areas such as corporate sponsorship from news sources it covers.
    
4. A newspaper should not accept free tickets, although press credentials needed for coverage and coordination are acceptable.
    
5. A newspaper should carefully consider the implications of voting for all awards and all-star teams and decide if such voting creates a conflict of interest.
    
6. A newspaper’s own ethical guidelines should be followed, and editors and reporters should be aware of standards acceptable for use of unnamed sources and verification of information obtained other than from primary news sources.
1. Sharing and pooling of notes and quotes should be discouraged. If a reporter uses quotes gained secondhand, that should be made known to the readers. A quote could be attributed to a newspaper or to another reporter.
    
7. Assignments should be made on merit, without regard for race or gender.

        I would have to agree with all these because I found that all these guidelines were very similar to the way I was raised.  Sports reporting is our job.  We should not accept handouts or free stuff because we are already being paid to cover it.  Just like regular journalist reporting news in the world, we should be unbiased on our views and present the facts as they are.  Unless you are writing an opinion column, people want to read the facts and come up with their own decision on the subject at hand.  However, I think a lot of people in the world are nervous about trusting what they read in the newspaper.  Journalism has become very biased over the years and have their own agenda when reporting the news.  Sexy sells.  I think people are realizing this more and more each day.  If you were to ask a random person on the street what they thought of journalists, you might not get a very good reaction from them.  It is our job as future journalist to change this view on the reporting world.  

       As a sports journalists, I think it is slightly easier to adhere to these Code of Ethics.  We are not reporting political or religious views (for the most part) just facts and statistics.  We must be sure to stay unbiased though when reporting.  I think it is very easy to report good things on your favorite athletic team and blissfully ignore the bad things.  On the other hand, I think it can be very easy to report the bad stuff about your favorite team's rival.  We must keep this in the back of our mind while writing down articles.  

       I want to be known for my honest and truthful reporting.  No matter who or what I am covering I am going to be sure to present the facts as they are and let the people come up with their own opinion.  I believe that if more people reported this way then the stereotype of dirty and untrustworthy reporting can be abolished.    

"Ethics Guidelines." APSE: Associated Press Sports Editors. apsportseditors.org, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.

Open Post #3 - Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame

        No matter what sport you played growing up I bet you had a dream of one day becoming a Hall of Fame inductee.  For many, this dream ended once high school ended.  Others were given four more years in college before having to give up this dream.  A small percentage of athletes actually get the chance at the professional level to showcase their talents.  An even smaller percentage has the opportunity to call them self a Hall of Famer.  What does this have to do with sports broadcasting you might ask?  In doing research I found that there is actually a Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

        What does this mean?  You don't have to give up your dream of becoming a Hall of Famer.  Granted, it is still an extremely tough achievement to accomplish, however the opportunity is still there.  "Our goal is simple: to honor those from across the entire spectrum of the sports broadcast industry who impacted, directly or indirectly, the way sports television is produced" (Aagaard para. 2).  Household names such as Al Michaels, Pat Summerall, John Madden and Dick Enberg are just a few of the sportscasters that are already inducted into the Hall of Fame.  It is also composed of behind the scene types and innovators in the production of sports, such as, "management, production, technical operations, leagues and teams, manufacturers and vendors, engineering, and On-Air Talent" (Aagaard para. 4).  

       It is encouraging to know that there is a chance to still go down in history as Hall of Famer.  I always wanted to be a professional basketball player, however, I came up short in that regard.  I believe I can still redeem myself by going down as one of the greatest sportscasters.  All it takes is a little hard work and determination.



Aagaard, Ken. "About the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame." Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. HOF, 2014. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://www.sportsvideo.org/halloffame/about/>. 

       

Prompt Post #3 - Interview

       I was able to interview someone who has worked in the field as a sports reporter.  Taylor Penn from Van Alstyne, TX was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to help me gather information about the job.  Mr. Penn is currently a high school teacher and coach, however, before he went into the field of education he was employed as a sports writer for the Van Alstyne Leader which included the towns of Van Alstyne and Howe in Texas.  Mr. Penn covered high school athletics, such as football, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball, track and field, golf, and tennis matches.  He also had his own weekly column where he could write about anything he wanted as long as it was related to sports.
       Mr. Penn was able to give me a little insight on what it is like to work for a newspaper and report the sports new.  Mr. Penn told me that "It takes a love for sports and a lot of your time.  You have to be willing to drive all over a specific area, which could be hundreds of miles, depending on where the team is playing."  He told me a common misconception of the job is that sports writers sometimes try to create drama or cause an issue when there really isn't one. Mr. Penn went on to say that another misconception is that sports writers tend to misquote coaches and players.  When asked how he was able to deal with these misconceptions he said "I just tried to report the facts, scores, and statistics as accurately and unbiased as possible so that I could report as objectively as possible. Also, whenever I would get a quote from a coach or player post-game, I would be sure and record it or write it down so that it was as accurate as possible."  I then went on to ask him how big of a role communication is in the field.  He replied, "Communication is critical. Not only accurate communication with the coaches and players that you are covering, but also with your editor and those above you to ensure that everyone is on the same page. I always tried to be as transparent as I could so that no one thought that I had an alternative motive for anything that I did."

      

Open Post #2 - Where It All Began

       While considering what to post next I started thinking about the business as a whole and what made it such a prominent field today.  To know who you are and where you're going, you must first know where you came from.  That made me want to go find out what sparked the fire in sports broadcasting.  I went to the Michigan State University library to do some research on the topic.  It came as no surprise to me that ESPN was the front runner in this.
       Sports reporting was not always the glamorous job it is today.  For a long time the only way to find out if your team won was to watch the news that night and hope they get mentioned.  You could also wait until the next morning and read the sports section of your local newspaper to find out the scores from around the nation.  It goes without saying that the demand for a television station who displayed around the clock news and coverage of sports was at a high.  ESPN first broke out onto the scene in 1979.  "Bill Rasmussen, an unemployed sports announcer, and a group of committed sports junkies in Bristol, Connecticut decided to lease unwanted satellite transponder space to broadcast Connecticut college sports and New England Whaler hockey games...Today, ESPN is the most powerful and prominent name in sports media.  The Bristol Campus...has 27 satellite dishes feeding more than 97 million subscribers as one of cable television's biggest networks" (Smith xiv).  It is humbling to realize that the biggest name in sports entertainment "started out of their garage" if you will.
       As I mentioned in previous blogs, my main goal is to one day be employed by ESPN.  I found it reassuring to find that they still stick to their sports first mentality.  "They want people who love sports first and foremost...The main concerns ESPN have are whether or not you are a sports junkie" (Smith xxii, xxiii).  I believe that ESPN want people like this to work for them so that every show is brought to the fans with the same passion and desire that they have for their beloved sports teams.  This passion and desire resides deep down in my soul and I will consider myself truly humbled and blessed if I can one day help continue to pave the road for a sports outlet such as ESPN.


Smith, Anthony F., and Keith Hollihan. ESPN The Company: The Story and Lessons Behind the Most        Fanatical Brand In Sports. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009. N. pag. Print.

Prompt #2 - Comparing Two Styles

            I wanted to get some different perspectives on the field of Sportscasting so I found a scholarly article by a professional in the field and then just a general overview of the field.  Michael Madden is a professional in Sports Broadcasting and decided to write an article titled "How to Become a Sports Broadcaster."  Madden gives an in depth depiction on what it takes to succeed.  He states "it's not as much what you know, but who you know - and who knows you" (Madden para. 14).  The main idea of the whole article is that networking and the connections you make through internships are what is ultimately going to decide your fate as a sportscaster.  To become successful you're going to have to get out there and make yourself known in the sports world.  Madden then goes on to give the most effective ways, in his opinion, on achieving your goals.  What stood out to me was his number two most effective way of becoming a sportscaster; attending a four year college or university.  Since I am currently attending Michigan State University and majoring in this field, I found it quite reassuring that this was so high on his list.  However, he did go on to say that "many travel the college road into sports broadcasting, but according to government statistics, only 12% reach their destination" (Madden para. 47).  This is a shockingly low number to me, however, this number motivates me even more to make sure I accomplish what I have set out to do.  In his opinion the number one way to become a sportscaster is becoming an apprentice to an already successful sportscaster.  By doing this you will learn hands on what it is like and also establish very intriguing connections to move up.

           I also looked for an explanation on the field from someone who was not a professional to compare the two viewpoints.  For the most part everything I found was vague and did not provide any real insight into the field other than stuff that is common knowledge.  For example "As a sports broadcaster, you'll present live sporting events while also providing commentary and analysis" ("Becoming a Sports Broadcaster" 1).  It was a basic, straight to the point type of article which is helpful for someone who has no idea what the field is, however, for interested students it is not a very helpful source.  For someone like myself, and other future prospects, I would recommend Madden's take on what it takes to become a sports caster.  He gives a clear understanding of everything and since he is successful in the field it gives the article immediate credibility. 

Madden, Michael. "How to Become a Sports Broadcaster." HubPages. HubPages Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2014.

"Becoming a Sports Broadcaster: Job Description & Salary Info." Diploma Guide. Dilplomaguide.com, 2013-2014. Web. 12 Sept. 2014.

Open Post #1

While doing some research on the field of Sports Broadcasting I came across the job requirements.  I learned that there is actually no educational requirements to becoming a sportscaster.  This is something I found quite interesting.  I thought becoming a sportscaster required a Journalism degree and quite possibly a masters in it also.  "A bachelor degree is preferred" and "prospective broadcasters may have to intern and work their way up to an on-air position or begin in a smaller market prior to moving up" (How to Become a Sports Broadcaster).  Even though a degree is not a requirement and only preferred I believe that if you want to have a real chance at getting a good job in the field you need to put in the time and get the degree.   I also knew interning was key in becoming a successful sportscaster so I will begin to look at more ways on becoming a successful intern in future blogs.

How to Become a Sports Broadcaster. Education Portal, n.d. Google. Web. 

           9 Sept. 2014. <education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_sports_broadcaster.html>.

Prompt #1 Sports Broadcasting

Growing up as a child I loved to watch Sports Center on ESPN.  This is what first interested me in the field of Sports Broadcasting so I already have some preconceptions on what to expect pursuing it as a career.  I believe that you have to love sports to do this job or else you will not be successful.  To the untrained eye it might seem like these sports anchors or reporters have it easy getting to talk about sports all day long, however, there is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes in to the job behind the scenes.  After reading some text about my field of interests I am confident that I am willing to dedicate the time and effort to accomplish my goals.  The book Sportscasters/Sportscasting Principles and Practices by Linda K. Fuller backed up my preconceptions on what to expect and I highly recommend reading it if you too are interested in a career in sportscasting.  Fuller states, "Some of the key skills needed for sportscasters include...knowledge about, and enthusiasm for sport(s), a great voice, and even better hair."  I believe that I might have to end up working on my voice since I am told that I have a slight "Texan twang" when I speak, however, other than that I think I fit the bill for becoming the next supreme sportscaster of our generation.


Fuller, Linda K. Sportscasters/Sportscasting Principles and Practices. New York: Routledge, 2008. Print.