I took this position in May 2022 because I saw the potential to build a sports communication program with the guidance of Bob Ley and a terrific faculty at the South Orange campus. We hope to create a program that connects students to technical skills they will need, and — more importantly — grounds them in traditional journalistic practices. We plan to take advantage of the incredible sports program at Seton Hall by doing the kind of storytelling that prepares students for careers in sports media, plus connecting those students with internships and mentoring opportunities in the largest media market in the country right next door.
Plenty of young people play sports, and you’d be hard pressed to find one who doesn’t cheer for a team. Our goal is to channel that passion into a profession, and that means grounding them in the theory and practice of journalism, broadcasting and production. But it also means practicing the skills by covering games, asking questions, blogging or podcasting with the collaboration of professors and peers.
We started off by celebrating Robin Roberts with a Lifetime Achievement Award in September. She not only played basketball in college, but one of her first stops was a distinguished tenure at ESPN. Her credibility is a beacon to the next generation of writers, interviewers and broadcasters.
It’s a competitive business, but there are plenty of roster spots for professional and prepared young people. I’m excited to help those students reach their goals.
Jane McManus
Executive Director Seton Hall Center for Sports Media
Twitter: @Janesports
In this episode, Jane McManus, Executive Director of the Center for Sports Media at
Seton Hall, shares the exciting happenings at the Center, including the Inaugural
Gala for the Center.
Jane McManus, the inaugural executive director of the Center for Sports Media, is featured in the video coverage of the U.S. Soccer Federation's milestone agreement to pay its men's and women's teams equally.