First of all, why choose Broadcasting? Well, aside from athletes, Broadcasting carries prestige as one of the most in-demand of sports jobs. In fact, in the US alone there are over 200 applicants for a single opening in the sports media industry. If you want a Broadcasting job, there are some ways to go about it:
1.Try to narrow down your search for sports jobs. Do you want to be in front of the camera as a Broadcaster per se? Or would you accept any other support positions (including writers, cameramen, and control room personnel?) Though you might not get the sports jobs you look for, the industry is vast enough to accommodate many, many people.
2.It helps to know what your qualifications are for sports jobs. Are you relatively pleasant to look at? Look at the Broadcasters who are now employed in the industry – are any of them ugly (or at least, unpleasant looking?) Secondly, do you have a better than average knowledge of any field of sports? A Broadcaster does not simply read statistics from a teleprompter. You may need to make informed and knowledgeable comments about the sport (or sports) that you will be required to cover. The most esteemed Broadcasters are considered authorities in at least one field of sports. Third, do you write well? A Broadcaster needs great writing skills because you may be asked to write your own sports stories too. Fourth, a Broadcaster needs to speak well without any disturbing mannerisms that just plain look bad on TV. If you are on radio, you may not need to be particularly good-looking but definitely you need to speak very well.
3.Are you willing to submit a demo tape (audio and video combined) to your potential employers so they can see how you perform? This is like a preparation for the real thing, but the advantage is you can always do the performance over if you (or whoever is helping you) is not satisfied with one take. If the employer likes your tape, then it is on to #4.
4.Do you have the guts (and the skills) to follow through with a real Broadcasting test? This means actually being on camera in a real television studio, or behind the mike in a radio broadcasting studio, so the people who might hire you can see how you perform under pressure. Remember, there may not be a second chance if you flub on this opportunity, so make it good.
5.What is your asking price? A rule of thumb is that newbies do not get paid as much as seasoned Broadcasters – just like in any other industry. Though the experienced ones may not be so willing to divulge to an applicant they barely know what they are getting, you could do your research among industry journals and newspapers. Though not highly likely, there are instances when publications are able to secure actual figures that apply to real people in the industry. Be patient and ask around.
If you believe that you have what it takes to be a great Broadcaster, then go for it! But if you think you are more suited for other sports jobs, then apply for those instead and cut down on the stress.
I mean they are cracking up left and right because it is the biggest flop in NFL history. no team has been undefeated in the Superbowl and lost the Superbowl. What a laughing stock of a season for the Patriots. Sorry Patriots fans but you didn’t deserve it after cheating.
OJR: The Online Journalism Review
Lots of folks have been bashing US broadcast network NBC for its coverage of the Winter Olympics from Vancouver, Canada.
I personally do not enjoy listening to Pablo Ramirez’s idiotic comments. It seems like he’s always inturrupting Bracamontes or correcting him. Didnt Bracamontes coach Las Chivas? You would think that he would know more about futbol than Ramirez.
i’m not talking about peolpe like joe buck or john madden… i mean your average sports commentators or writers. i love baseball and in my opinion and that of everyone i know i do soooo much better sitting on my couch commentating then do the ones who are doing it on tv. Michael Kay’s job would be my dream job for those of you who know him
From that first little league softball game to that spiral kick on the football field that gives many of us the true devotion for the love of the game. A sport not only builds character but by participating you become part of a team. We all have different attributes and interests which make every person unique. Our surroundings should become part of us and help to proudly display our personalities. With sports consuming a big portion of our lives, it would only be natural to want to show off our pride to others.
A new interior decorating idea that has become very popular is to use vinyl wall decals. Fortunately, for the sports enthusiast there are numerous sport wall graphics literally from skateboarding to rock climbing. They are made on a tear resistant adhesive backed vinyl and are UV treated. This means they won’t fade even if under constant direct sunlight. You just apply these on any smooth surface by peel and stick.
Home wall decorating can’t be much easier then this technique. Sport wall graphics are contour cut, removable, repositionable, reusable and leave no sticky residue behind.
You can feature your sport wall graphics on any wall and in any room of the house. You tend to see this design in bedrooms, family rooms, garages and most dorm rooms. This trend has also taken quite a hold on apartment dwellers. For tenants that cannot paint this is a great outlet to awaken those dull walls. Since it leaves no marks or damage to the walls you can still decorate with piece of mind and get your deposit back when you move.
These decals come in all sizes, shapes and colors. You can purchase complete ready made kits or you can pick and choose to create your own design. With new technology you can take a picture and have it printed right on the vinyl. For an example I had a graphic made of my son in his football gear 4’x 4’ and he became the focal point of the wall. You might say that my star is now the wall star! Around his picture are smaller pictures of pros and their stats. This was all my son’s idea and because of this, his room is truly his own haven. He can’t wait to bring his friends up to his room and hear their comments when they see his creation.
Gift giving seems like it is getting harder and harder no mater who the recipient is. This example might get your imagination churning. For my nephews high school graduation gift I put together sport wall graphics for his new dorm room for college. He was a huge fan of the hometown soccer league in his area. He also had a black belt in karate. Without his knowledge I was able to capture him at a competition and had a wall sports graphics mural made from that snap shot.
To his amazement I also had every face of all the soccer players. When I came to visit him on a family weekend I was the one that was amazed to see the work of art he had created with my gift. When you entered his domain you had the feeling you were enveloped in the world of sports. It was an awesome feeling.
Try this inexpensive technique that promotes drama, intrigue, fun and conversation according to your sports interests. Add on or take off from your design. One thing is for sure, you will never get bored. Open up your mind and get to work before next season starts. Stand up and cheer for your favorite team!