Turkish Tornado
New member
- Joined:
- Oct 25, 2010
- Posts:
- 2
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- 0
Long time since I've been here. Previously known as Роз Гордон, but I guess the database after the switch from bullspodcasters couldn't handle the cyrllic characters so the names pretty much void over here.
Been quite busy, so haven't had a ton of time for the blogosphere and message board world as of late.
I've started covering Missouri sports for KCTV, which is the CBS Affiliate in Kansas City.
Over the past few weeks I've learned quite a bit from being on the inside of all of this, that isn't quite apparent from the outside.
One of the things that became evident to me is if you treat the players with respect, and show them that you're not out to get them in your writing, or whatever, that they will show you the same respect back. There is one star player at Missouri that I was told was a dick, asshole, etc. by a lot of the other media members, but I have never had a negative interaction with said player, and I've had to interview this player plenty given his prominence on the team.
The players, at this level at least, have all been great to talk to. It becomes apparent pretty fast how much each player cares for the other players on the team.
I don't think a lot of the media guys spend enough time with individual players. They go in, and ask their 2-3 questions to a wide array of players, and then call it a day. I think it's better to spend time just talking for awhile with an individual player. You learn a lot more from that, as you begin going more and more in depth on something with the player.
This brings me to another realization, which is just how important it is to be a consistent face among the players. The first time or two you're interviewing a player, they might not be the most comfortable with you. But as these guys begin seeing you a few times every week, they start getting more comfortable. This has a few benefits. First, they will be looking for you among the crowd of reporters, and will stay locked in on you so you can get more and more questions in, before they turn to another reporter for their questions. Second, they begin to get more comfortable with you after talking to you more and more, so they answers you get start getting better and better.
You really need to grow a pair to survive here. There's only going to be a limited amount of time that the coaches or players are going to have to talk to you, so you have to know who it is most important for you to talk with, how long you can spend talking to each player, and what's most important to ask them. You have to go in there as a bit of a shark, and just go around talking to who you need to talk to. It's not something to do for the really timid.
It is also very much an insider sport. There's a certain way that things work that you need to learn, and once you learn this setup, your job will be immensely easier. You will also be seeing much of the same people every week, so it's important to show them respect as well. One thing I've tried to do is let the TV guys get the best position when talking to players. My voice recorder can capture sound from pretty far away, so if I can slide a camera man into a better position, I always try to do so, so they can capture better video. Some of them have definitely paid me back in the way of help.
Another thing I have learned is how much of an assist the teams give the media. They give the media all sorts of press packets and other information to help them write their stories.
And lastly I should say, that this job is FUN. I don't understand the people up in the press box who look miserable up there. This is a job that is meant to be fun. To be able to do a job where I get free drinks and food and get one of the best seats in the house to games like this past Saturday's Oklahoma vs. Missouri game is a real blessing.
A lot of hard work has gone into getting me to where I am today, and where I'm gonna go...but you still have to step back and look at how lucky you are to be able to do something like watch a football game and then write about it for your job.
Been quite busy, so haven't had a ton of time for the blogosphere and message board world as of late.
I've started covering Missouri sports for KCTV, which is the CBS Affiliate in Kansas City.
Over the past few weeks I've learned quite a bit from being on the inside of all of this, that isn't quite apparent from the outside.
One of the things that became evident to me is if you treat the players with respect, and show them that you're not out to get them in your writing, or whatever, that they will show you the same respect back. There is one star player at Missouri that I was told was a dick, asshole, etc. by a lot of the other media members, but I have never had a negative interaction with said player, and I've had to interview this player plenty given his prominence on the team.
The players, at this level at least, have all been great to talk to. It becomes apparent pretty fast how much each player cares for the other players on the team.
I don't think a lot of the media guys spend enough time with individual players. They go in, and ask their 2-3 questions to a wide array of players, and then call it a day. I think it's better to spend time just talking for awhile with an individual player. You learn a lot more from that, as you begin going more and more in depth on something with the player.
This brings me to another realization, which is just how important it is to be a consistent face among the players. The first time or two you're interviewing a player, they might not be the most comfortable with you. But as these guys begin seeing you a few times every week, they start getting more comfortable. This has a few benefits. First, they will be looking for you among the crowd of reporters, and will stay locked in on you so you can get more and more questions in, before they turn to another reporter for their questions. Second, they begin to get more comfortable with you after talking to you more and more, so they answers you get start getting better and better.
You really need to grow a pair to survive here. There's only going to be a limited amount of time that the coaches or players are going to have to talk to you, so you have to know who it is most important for you to talk with, how long you can spend talking to each player, and what's most important to ask them. You have to go in there as a bit of a shark, and just go around talking to who you need to talk to. It's not something to do for the really timid.
It is also very much an insider sport. There's a certain way that things work that you need to learn, and once you learn this setup, your job will be immensely easier. You will also be seeing much of the same people every week, so it's important to show them respect as well. One thing I've tried to do is let the TV guys get the best position when talking to players. My voice recorder can capture sound from pretty far away, so if I can slide a camera man into a better position, I always try to do so, so they can capture better video. Some of them have definitely paid me back in the way of help.
Another thing I have learned is how much of an assist the teams give the media. They give the media all sorts of press packets and other information to help them write their stories.
And lastly I should say, that this job is FUN. I don't understand the people up in the press box who look miserable up there. This is a job that is meant to be fun. To be able to do a job where I get free drinks and food and get one of the best seats in the house to games like this past Saturday's Oklahoma vs. Missouri game is a real blessing.
A lot of hard work has gone into getting me to where I am today, and where I'm gonna go...but you still have to step back and look at how lucky you are to be able to do something like watch a football game and then write about it for your job.
