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Kate Athenour

Ms. Moore

30 April, 2017

English 12

Reporting Live

What I Knew

The crowds roar echoes throughout the stadium, my adrenaline rushes through my veins,

with each step my sharp cleats puncture a new hole into the freshly cut grass. The massive lights

illuminate each player and the audiences attention is fixated on the soccer ball. The competition

and drive to win is what pushes me to go to practice every day after school. The countless hours

of training and tedious touches on the ball are all worth it when game day anxiously arrives.

Without sports I wouldnt be the competitive, driven person I am today. Through sports I have

built relationships, built my foundation of perseverance and positive attitude, and experienced

pure joy and heartbreak -- all in one game. Sports have been a big aspect of my life whether

playing soccer or volleyball with my best friends, or watching the Broncos take home the Super

Bowl 50 victory against the Carolina Panthers. For that reason, I saw this capstone project as an

opportunity to explore a career that I was passionate and curious about.

Going into second semester of my senior year, I didnt really know a whole lot about

capstone because I wasnt in this class the semester before. My first day in the class, we wasted

no time and jumped right into the project. I was a bit overwhelmed initially but I was

immediately drawn to exploring sports marketing. I didnt know what the job entailed, but I have

always had a passion for sports and thought that I may want to go into a career related to sports.
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After some research, and a failed attempt of trying to find mentors, I soon changed my

project from sports marketing to broadcasting. I didnt have a lot of prior knowledge of sports

broadcasting before I started my project, but I did know some basic aspects about the career from

watching reporters on TV, and my aunt is in the broadcasting business. Just from watching

football games, the female reporters for the NFL recap the game, interview the players, and look

pretty. My mom would always tell me that she could see me doing that when I get older but I

never really took it too seriously until this project came up. I knew that broadcasters have to have

strong public speaking skills and they have to be educated about sports and the players, but I

didnt know what the preparation took.

What I Wanted to Know

When completing college applications I was often asked what I want to major in and I

realized that I really dont know what I want to study for my next four years. As a kid, I never

had a clarified driven passion on what I wanted to be when I grew up. Sports are important to me

because they have become a major part of my life. Sitting down on the couch as a family every

Sunday to watch the Broncos play has become a tradition. Waking up early every

Saturday to go play soccer at Rooney Road has become a routine. My senior year, I decided to be

the team manager for the boys basketball team, and my passion for basketball and sports in

general grew an immense amount. Assisting the coach and experiencing the intense environment

and attitude of the players further ensured my love of sports and the motive of pursuing a career

in that field. Id much rather analyze a game and talk about different players than sit in a cubicle

all day. I am a people person and work well with others and I wanted to know if sports

broadcasting was the type of career where I could put those skills to the test. Ultimately I wanted
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to decide if sports broadcasting was something I wanted to further pursue as a college major. My

goal during this Capstone project was to learn not only about sports broadcasting and whether I

want to further pursue that as a major, but also how to create networks within a profession, how

to obtain the management and communication skills that are required to maintain a professional

job, and how to create relationships with clients and coworkers. I believe that these skills are

incredibly important to have a successful career and this project is giving me the opportunity to

learn these skills before I even start my career.

What I Learned

My Capstone project tested my ability to stay focused on my goal and research indirect

materials that affect my profession. Because I initially didnt know where I would be attending

school next year, I looked into my top two schools to see what majors they offer relating to

sports broadcasting. My research continued with exploring the difference between radio and TV

broadcasting. I was even lucky enough to experience it in person and got to sit in during a TV

interview and a radio interview with my mentor, Julie Browman a radio anchor for Altitude

Sports, and experience the differences between the two and form an opinion for myself

(ON-AIR TALENT). However, I believe that the most knowledge I obtained through my

project, was from the times I got to spend with my mentor in her studio. Reading what the career

of sports broadcasting consists of off an illuminating computer screen is only half of the

equation. I have never had the opportunity to see what the sports broadcasting career consists of,

but after spending time in the studio, talking with my mentor, and seeing the relationships

between her and her coworkers, it gave me insight into what a professional job consists of.
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With the college search process in full swing, I researched the sports broadcasting majors

at the colleges I was considering attending in the fall. I first looked at Gonzaga Universitys

communication school and the journalism major they offer. I was initially very interested with

their program at Gonzaga because they offer students the opportunity to take a class in live

sporting events in which students gain experience broadcasting games from Gonzagas

remote-production truck (Gonzaga University...). Gonzaga has an incredible basketball team

and having the opportunity to be a part of the broadcasting program there was very intriguing.

Another school I was very seriously considering was Texas Christian University. I had done

some extensive research about the different majors they offer to determine which ones I am

interested in. The Bob Schieffer College of Communication offers a major in Sports

Broadcasting, available in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees where students

get the opportunity to learn everything from the history of sports broadcasting to the sociology of

sports. (Sports Broadcasting Major; Sports Broadcasting Courses). For all four years they

offer classes to help prepare students for professional jobs and teach them more about the

profession. When I visited Texas Christian University in the beginning of March, my brother

whos a junior at TCU, gave me a tour of the College of Communications. It was exciting to see

all the technology and advancements that the college has to offer. Soon after my visit, I

committed to TCU to start my freshman year in the fall of 2017. After finally deciding where I

was going to school, my research sparked and became a lot more fun. I could finally see myself

in the studios at TCU and being a part of that environment. Students who go into the

undergraduate major of sports broadcasting get the opportunity to not only learn in the classroom

setting but also get hands on experience in the studio. Students get to produce and direct live
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coverage of TCU sporting events... that are broadcast[ed] on FOX Sports Southwest ("Sports

Broadcasting"). Graduates in the Sports Broadcasting major at Texas Christian University have

had the opportunity to further their career by working with the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas

Mavericks, ESPN Monday Night Football, and Fox Sports Digital Media ("Sports

Broadcasting").

After learning more about what TCU offers for sports broadcasting and the different

opportunities I have to study at college, I extended my research by exploring the differences

between radio and television broadcasting. The average salary that a sports broadcaster makes is

$57,980 in television and $35,820 in radio but this varies with different networks and sports.

Television broadcasters typically make more money because they are actually on camera and can

be aired on big networks including ESPN and NBC Sports, while radio is typically more local

and requires less production efforts.

Through my research of the differences between radio broadcasting and TV, I found that

besides the salary, there are several behind the scenes aspects that are different that most

people dont get to see. In an article that I read from Susan Arbetter about the differences

between radio and TV broadcasting, she continually said that TV is "flashier", "bigger", and

takes more preparation than radio, whether that be for the script or physical appearances (The

BIG Difference...). She also made a comment about how on television it isn't the sound that gets

airtime but rather the video, whereas for radio the delivery and audio of each line is what gives

the story character (The BIG Difference...). That struck me as very interesting because Julie

Browman made a similar comment when I asked her what she thought the biggest differences

were. She said that on radio you can talk about other things than just sports and theres banter
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between each partner, whereas on TV you stick to the script (Browman). There is more emphasis

on the looks and the physical appearances for TV while it's more about the energy and passion in

ones voice for radio.

After doing research about the differences between radio and TV broadcasting, my

mentor offered me the opportunity to sit in during a television interview she was doing with the

former Denver University hockey coach, George Geozdecky, who is now the hockey coach for

Valor Christian High School. The interview was held at the Ice Ranch in Highlands Ranch and it

was quite the experience to see the preparation it took for a television interview. Ms. Browman

asked him questions about how the collegiate level varies from high school and what has been

the biggest struggle so far switching (Browman). During the TV interview, I noticed that Ms.

Browman had to be more engaged and her facial expressions and body language changed when

she was on TV rather than just in the studio for radio broadcasting. She was more alert and

intentively listening when Mr. Geozdecky was speaking whereas in the studio for the radio

broadcast, she was actively taking notes, preparing what to say next, and more laid back.

After thoroughly researching different aspects of my topic and learning more about the

career as a whole, I had to chance to shadow my mentor during one of her radio shows at

Altitude Sports. When I came into her studio, I took note of a few things that stood out to me.

First, I was delightfully surprised on how laid back and casual the whole work environment was.

I could tell right away that everyone there loved their jobs and their coworkers. The

conversations were light hearted and playful, and even on air, Ms. Browman was relaxed and

unscripted. I found it interesting and in fact, more engaging how off topic Ms. Browman and her

partner got while on air. Instead of talking about sports for two hours, they talked about Sting,
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the famous rock star, National Singles Day, and Def Leppard. They still talked about the

Avalanche, Nuggets, and Broncos but it was interesting that they could talk about more than just

sports on air. They kept the audience engaged by having a topic of the day, and allowing

listeners to text or call in their answers for a chance to win tickets to a sporting event.

While in the studio, I had a lot of time to watch how my mentor and her coworkers

interacted while at work. It seemed as though there was never a dull moment within their office

and they were always laughing and joking around with one another. It was fun to watch Ms.

Browman and her partner, Mr. Moser, interact on and off the air whether that be arguing about

which sports team they hate more, or laughing about how Ms. Browman thinks Sting is so hot.

Between my experiences in the studio and what I read in my book, I understood that without

productive relationships between you and your coworkers, you and your business will not be

successful. As my mentor said herself, the relationships between coworkers is so important to

keep the office running (Browman). The dynamic and efficiency of the whole office is

dependent on healthy relationships and putting your emotions aside to understand what others

are feeling.

For my independent reading book project, I originally picked a book called, Those Guys

Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN. It talks about how ESPN as a company has grown

immensely throughout the years into an empire of television, radio, magazines, and video games.

The style of the book was very unique in the sense that it was small excerpts and quotes from

different employees at ESPN and their experience with the growth of the company. They

addressed the adversity they faced with the start of the company, and how no one believed it

would be successful (Miller, Shales). The structure of the book made it hard to stay engaged and
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get a flow of reading. I found that the information I was reading was irrelevant to my topic and I

wasnt quite getting the information I was hoping to gain. Shortly after, I switched to a totally

different book that wasnt about sports broadcasting, but instead emotional intelligence in the

workplace and how to utilize your emotions and understand those around you to be successful.

The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success, taught me how to define my goal and

success, maintain my emotions in high stress situations, create healthy relationships with

coworkers, and express ideas in an effective manner.

It was interesting to read a book that didnt have a direct correlation with sports

broadcasting but rather how to function in a work environment. I was able to apply the strategies

and skills I was learning in my book to different scenarios in the workplace, and the adversity I

was facing with this project. Right from the start of the book, they define success as the ability

to set and achieve your personal and professional goals" (Stein, Book, 12). If you can accomplish

the goals that you have set for yourself, you have found your success. Throughout my book,

Stein and Book talk about how emotional intelligence is "a set of skills that enables us to make

our way in a complex world -- the personal, social, and survival aspects of overall intelligence,

the elusive common sense and sensitivity that are essential to effective daily functioning (Stein,

Book, 14). Finding success is so much more than a persons IQ or analytical intelligence, but

more on how they can emotionally handle themselves, work with others, and function in a social

environment. Having emotional self-awareness and empathy towards yourself and those

around you, is a major key to success. To be aware of, to understand and to appreciate the

feelings and thoughts of others can help maintain relationships and bring success to the goal

you have set out to accomplish (Stein, Book, 125).

Stein and Book reiterate throughout the book the importance of being assertive, and to

stand up for your own rights and beliefs (Stein, Book, 76). I initially thought about women

in the sports broadcasting industry. Sometimes, female sports reporters can be viewed as less

than or uneducated about sports because its a man thing. Ms. Browman talked about how it

can be a hard business for women because they can be looked down upon when talking about

sports but it is important to maintain confidence and composure through it all (Browman).

Another important skill I learned from my book was how to express your ideas in an

effective yet respectful manner. There are three main steps that Stein and Book talked about on

how to be assertive and effective, yet not overbearing. Sufficient self-awareness to be able to

recognize feelings before you express them, sufficient impulse control to express disapproval

and even anger without letting it escalate into fury and to express a range of desires in the

appropriate way, and [to] stand up for your own rights, your own causes and deeply held beliefs

(Stein, Book, 76). These three ways of maintaining your emotions and being assertive are more

than just simple steps to follow, but rather give you the opportunity to express your beliefs in a

assertive but respectful manner while maintaining healthy relationships within the office.

After finishing my book, I realized how much I retained from it. I was a little skeptical

about it at first because it wasnt on sports broadcasting. However, after not finding much

success from my first book, I was delightfully surprised with all the knowledge I had gained

about emotional intelligence. My project as a whole helped me get a better grasp on what I plan

to do in my near future. Throughout this process, my mentor offered me several opportunities to

see what the job consists of and without that opportunity I wouldnt feel as confident going into

college.
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Why This is Important to Me

With college and my whole future in front of me, this project was the perfect opportunity

for me to get a better grasp on what I want to do as I jump into the real world. Second semester

senior year is a crucial time for students because what theyve worked for over the past four

years is finally paying off. Going into this project, I wanted to get a better understanding on

whether or not sports broadcasting was an area I wanted to study in college. With that, I strived

to learn how to create networks within a profession, how to obtain management and

communication skills in a professional job, and how to create relationships with clients and

coworkers. Although I didnt achieve every goal I set out to complete, I gained knowledge about

the basics of sports broadcasting, and how crucial relationships are in an office. I was nervous

and intimidated at first by this project because I was stepping out of my comfort zone. However,

I am genuinely grateful for the the knowledge, experiences, and reassurance I gained throughout

my project because it validated my interest in this career.

I really didnt know that much about sports broadcasting before I started this project

because I have never had the opportunity to explore it deeper. Towards the beginning of my

project, I was a bit concerned about how repetitive the daily job might be. I originally felt as

though every day was the same routine and there wasnt a whole lot of variation. I am the type of

person that thrives on change. I have a hard time grasping concepts out of a text book, I work

well with my peers, and without change I dont stay focused. Although the environment looked

fun, I didnt know if I wouldve been able to talk about sports for 3 hours every day on a radio

show. However, after seeing the different opportunities my mentor got to participate in,

including TV interviews, I realized that the job is so much more than just a radio anchor. Getting
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the chance to interview different athletes and coaches live was an experience I never thought Id

have, but this career offers that and so much more. After shadowing my mentor and seeing her

thrive in that environment, I left my project feeling optimistic. Every time I sat in during my

mentors show, I saw the excitement and enthusiasm that she had; how passionate and

opinionated she was when she spoke. She loves her job and finding contentment in her career has

led her to success. The interaction between her and her coworkers, or rather I should call them

her friends, reiterated how much I value relationships, and that I when I do find a career, it needs

to be one where I am surrounded by others. Seeing Ms. Browmans enthusiasm got me excited

about my future and my plans ahead of me.

Although I didnt walk out of my mentors studio on the last day knowing that this is

what I was meant to do, this project sparked my interest in the career and the fun environment. I

had the opportunity on multiple occasions to meet and hear from very important people in the

sports world, see the dynamics and the preparation of sports radio, and put myself into a work

environment that gave me real world experience and exposure to what the career consists of.

Now that I am going into college with real world experiences of sports broadcasting, I am even

more intrigued by the major.

Without this project, I wouldve been going into my freshman year of college blind. I was

prepared to study different courses to get a better idea of what I wanted to major in but after this

project, I am already multiple steps ahead. I am still going into TCU undeclared, but I am on

track to further explore classes in sports broadcasting and journalism. I look forward to getting

the opportunity to broadcast TCU baseball, basketball, and football games, and to receive

hands-on experience at a school that excels in athletics.

This project has taught me everything from sports broadcasting, to how to write a

professional and respectful email. Although at times I felt stressed out with the work and getting

enough hours, I was grateful I had the experiences I did.

Works Cited

Browman, Julie. Mentorship. 10 February, 2017- 23 April, 2017.

"Gonzaga University, Spokane Washington." Gonzaga University. Gonzaga University,

2017. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Miller, James A., Shales, Tom. Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN. New

York: Little Brown, 2011. Print.

"Sports Broadcasting." Undergraduate Admissions. Texas Christian University, 2017. Web. 21

Apr. 2017.

"Sports Broadcasting Courses." TCU FTDM. Texas Christian University, 2017. Web. 19 Apr.

2017.

"Sports Broadcasting Major." TCU FTDM. Texas Christian University, 2017. Web. 26 Feb.

2017.

Stein, Steven, and Howard E. Book. The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success.

Mississauga, Ont.: Jossey-Bass, 2011. Print.

"The Average Salaries of Professional Sports Announcers." The Average Salaries of

Professional Sports Announcers | [Link]. Hearst Newspapers, LLC, 2017. Web. 22

Feb. 2017.

"The BIG Difference between Radio and TV." Susan Arbetter. 30 Oct. 2007. Web. 26 Feb.

2017.

"ON-AIR TALENT." Julie Browman - Altitude Television Reporter and Host - Altitude TV.

2017. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.