Sports groups offer hands-on opportunities
It’s call-out season, and IU student groups are recruiting new members, many with opportunities for Media School students.
The school hosted three of those in the Franklin Hall commons Thursday as leaders from IUSTV Sports, WIUX Sports and the IU chapter of the Association for Women in Sports Media talked to fellow sports-loving students about their groups.
IUSTV Sports
The student-run station’s sports director, Jacques Rozier, was the first to take the stage and encourage students to join the IUSTV Sports team.
Rozier explained that majority of the work involves film. Members are expected to know how to both shoot and edit their content. After training in camera work, interviewing and editing, they’ll pitch their own stories, cover them, then edit the footage into a 15-20 minute package. Members may cover any sport they want.
“This is a great place to learn valuable skills,” Rozier said to the crowded room. “The more you know in this industry, the better you are.”
The position for anchor has already been filled, among other roles. However, IUSTV Sports does have spots open in soccer coverage, social media and many other positions. And, Rozier says, it also has a programming department that takes pitches for story ideas for weekly shows. So, if none of these positions pique your interest, you and your friends can pitch a weekly show idea and possibly get on air that way.
After hearing Rozier, Media School sophomores Kasey Braxton, Kaitlyn Burman and Clara Swan said they wanted to be a part of it.
“I wanted to be anchor, but now this gives me the opportunity to learn more and get better,” said Burman, who is concentrating on broadcast journalism.
WIUX Sports
After a Mother Bears pizza break, Ben Wittenstein and Edward Koton, both WIUX Sports directors, talked about the WIUX Sports committee. According to Wittenstein, the WIUX Sports committee can be summed up into three words: “We talk sports.”
WIUX, the student-run radio station, airs sport segments 10-11 a.m. or 6-8 p.m. every day. Each host or set of hosts is allotted one or two hours to talk sports. WIUX covers all IU sports, including Little 500, men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball and men’s and women’s soccer.
With the new semester, the WIUX Sports committee wants to make use of facilities in the Media School for special events, increase their DJs’ hands-on experience and build crucial skills for all of their members.
“Our main goal is to get you on the air,” Koton said.
Sean Gerken, a sophomore studying journalism, now said he is interested in producing his own sports show with WIUX. He’s never hosted a radio show before but working with WIUX, he said, could be a lot of fun. Gerken hopes to talk about basketball or soccer on his show.
Association for Women in Sports Media
Last to present was Olivia Deweese, founding president of the chapter of the Association for Women in Sports Media. She gave a history of the chapter, explaining that it had been on campus in the past but was brought back in January due to an increase in women interested in sports media
Now, ASWM has big ambitions and welcomes both men and women as members. Participants may explore all forms of sports media including print, public relations and broadcast.
The club will also host workshops and guest speakers. So far, it has lined up alumna and sports broadcaster Tricia Whitaker to visit in September.
Ultimately, Deweese said, ASWM is a great way to network with men and women in the profession, as well as hone your craft with workshops.
The callouts wrapped just in time for a Watch Party for the IU football game on the big screen at Franklin Hall.
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