Seeking the next Chris Berman: College journalists will get chance to train with ESPNU
December 6, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Calling games on an ESPN network will no longer be just a fantasy for college journalism students.
The all-sports family of networks announced a new partnership Thursday between ESPNU and about a dozen universities to use students as announcers, sideline reporters and producers during game broadcasts.
Under the program, students will also contribute segments and feature stories to other ESPN networks, including ESPN and ESPN2, and write articles for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com.
The first major assignment will be at North Carolina, where students will perform a variety of roles during the broadcast of the men's basketball game against UNC-Asheville on Jan. 9.
"It gives our students an opportunity to get their work on a national sports network, which will surely help them in the marketplace," said Mark Rodin, technical director at Florida State's Seminoles Productions. "Knowing they have a shot at being on ESPN makes them work a little harder, challenges their creativity a little more and enhances their overall educational experience."
Other schools participating so far are Georgetown, Ohio University, Peppderdine, Syracuse, Texas Southern, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. ESPNU said at least 20 schools would participate during the program's first year.
The program will give college journalism students experience and exposure well beyond the norm of campus journalism productions -- and give ESPN access to cheap labor. Some students, particularly those appearing on air, may get paid for their work, but most will only receive academic credit, said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager for ESPNU.
"We want to get the unique perspective students have and give them some real-world experience," he said.
ESPNU, launched in 2005, and its Web site compete with College Sports TV and CSTV.com, providing viewers with deeper coverage of NCAA athletics, including lower-profile sports like volleyball and soccer. Earlier this week, ESPN announced than an HD version of ESPNU will launch next August.
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