Bowl games and big-time sporting events offers premium experiences for student media

Big-time sporting events — relished by athletes — also amp up resumes, highlight reels and pro contacts for Ohio University media students who travel nationwide to cover powerhouse contests.

When OHIO’s football team plays Georgia Southern University in the Myrtle Beach Bowl Dec. 16, student journalists will write, edit, photograph, video and share live updates. Covering high-pressure, big-time events often enhances job prospects and confidence.

Highlights Reel Gold

Journalism senior Ayden Crowley, sports editor at WOUB, says he’ll never forget the feeling of videoing OHIO’s game-winning touchdown in overtime at the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl on Dec. 30, 2022. OHIO beat Wyoming 30-27.

“As soon as I saw the ball head towards my corner of the end zone, I felt a mix of anxiety and excitement,” recalls Crowley. “Once I knew I captured the play, I was so proud and happy to be in the position to bring that moment to life. In covering these teams all season, we are tasked with telling their story. Being able to bookend that historic group in such a way was an amazing opportunity that I will never forget.”

The game-winning touchdown video is pinned at the top of Crowley’s social media page, generating thousands of views. 

“Easily the coolest thing I’ve captured,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding “huge thanks to WOUB for the opportunity.”

Last year, Crowley traveled to the OHIO football game at Penn State University and the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl in Tucson, AZ. This year he has covered the Mid-American Conference basketball tournament in Cleveland and OHIO’s football game at San Diego State University. 

“These opportunities helped me gain a deeper understanding of the professionalism required at major sporting events and proper protocol to follow,” said Crowley. “I am standing side-by-side with industry professionals with an opportunity to network and showcase my skills on a major scale.” 

Journalism senior Maria Monesi, lead producer at WOUB’s Bobcat Showcase, said real-world experience traveling to large-scale sports events “has been significant in helping me grow my skills while creating content.”

Monesi, Crowley and other student journalists plan to travel to the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Alumni Support

Support from Scripps College of Communication alumni helps pay for student media travel.

Larry Katz (RTV ’77) says his student experiences at WOUB taught him to handle deadline pressure and the value of teamwork. He endowed a gift that offsets WOUB student travel expense to sports events and helps pay wages to students producing sports programming.

Alumni Laura Landro (BSJ ’76) and Mary Beth Bardin (BSJ ’77) worked at the student-run newspaper The Post. Their gifts and other alumni support provide travel funds and stipends for journalists at The Post to also have these opportunities. According to Director of Student Media Andrea Lewis, Post staffers will travel to the Myrtle Beach Bowl and have covered away games of Ohio University hockey, baseball, basketball and soccer.

“Travel to conferences, workshops and sports events is an integral part of students’ professional development,” Lewis adds.

OHIO Athletics Media

In addition to gaining experience though campus media, such as The Post and WOUB, students also hone media skills at OHIO Athletics.

Journalism senior Ashley Beach, a student director at Ohio University Athletics, traveled to two Mid-American Conference football games in 2023.

“Student media travel is important because it creates a different, valuable experiential learning environment,” Beach said. “I helped moderate a press conference on one of those trips, which was an incredible experience.”

“Game day experience is more than resume enhancement,” says Sarah Newgarde (BSJ ’19), director of Athletics Administration and Football Communications. “This hands-on experience allows students to find where they thrive and improve from there.”