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Center for Sports Media

Center for Sports Media Expands Experiential Learning and Industry Partnerships This Fall

students in photoThe Center for Sports Media has had an active fall semester, marked by expanded experiential learning opportunities and on-site industry experiences, as well as strengthened partnerships with ESPN and NBC Sports.

For this academic year, the Center broadened its Pirates in the Field program from six to 15 experiential events, giving more students opportunities to produce content and support live sports coverage. Selected students were on-site at Big East men’s and women’s basketball Media Days, producing coverage for the Center’s platforms. Students participating included Amya McKnight, James Costa, Christian Hui, Jayden Bracket and Jaden Highsmith.

Through the Center’s partnership with ESPN, students continue to secure guaranteed internships and are working as runners at major network productions.

One student recently assisted ESPN’s GameDay in Pittsburgh, and two students will support SEC Nation in Nashville this weekend. Several students will also participate in an ESPN strategy focus group, while others will take part in a project pitch to present new content concepts to network leadership.

The Center’s connection with NBC Sports continues through a co-taught Live Sports Production course led by NBC’s Olympics executive Amy Rosenfeld and the Center’s executive director, B.J. Schecter. As part of the course, three students will intern at NBC Sports’ Stamford, CT, headquarters during the Winter Olympics next February.

The students enrolled in the course also visited NBC headquarters in early November. The group toured production spaces, including control rooms and the network’s new studio, and met with staff from several divisions. The visit included information on internships, entry-level positions and even long-term career paths.

In October, 12 students participated in a masterclass taught by Andrea Kremer, an 11-time Emmy Award–winning journalist. Kremer provided a detailed review of one of the most memorable stories of her career, an investigative piece for HBO’s Real Sports on the founder of Bikram yoga.

Looking ahead, On December 1, the Center will host a virtual panel “Sports’ Trillion Dollar Question: Does Integrity Matter?” The discussion will address sports gambling, NIL, private equity, and issues related to integrity in sports.

Bob Ley ’76, legendary sportscaster and executive founder of the Center for Sports Media, will moderate the event.

Panelists include:

  • Andrea Kremer, journalist
  • Andrew Brandt, Executive Director, Morad Center for the Study of Sports Law, Villanova University
  • Darren Rovell, sports business journalist

The program will be held via Zoom and streamed on YouTube. Register here.

In addition, the Center is offering an opportunity with New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS), which will host its NJYS Awards Celebration presented by RWJBarnabas Health on Sunday, February 1, at The American Dream Mall. The event recognizes players, coaches, referees, administrators and community leaders across New Jersey.

For additional information about programs and opportunities, visit the Center for Sports Media’s website.

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