One sport I’m really good at is the hardest sport you can think of… have you guessed it yet? Well, you’re right. Fantasy Football. Today, it places at top 10 for a popular social media game. Fantasy football is a virtual game in which players around the world select imaginary teams from the players in a league and score points according to the players actual stats. Today we look at how sports, virtual or not, have affected teenagers and young adults today because of the increase of interest in sports broadcasting.
While many universities have offered degrees in communication studies for more than a century, programs that offer specific concentrations in broadcast journalism have only begun to emerge over the last few decades.
jASON BELZER, FORBES MAGAZINE
Olivet Nazarene University has had an increase in students interested in sports broadcasting. Seven out of 12 students I surveyed here at Olivet Nazarene University said that if there were a sports broadcasting major, that would be their first choice. As sports broadcasting continues to grow, so do the student’s interests here at Olivet Nazarene University.
Andrew McBurnie, an Olivet Nazarene University alumnus who now works as an admissions counselor, gave me his perspective on the excitement of sports broadcasting. Several incoming freshmen have expressed and interest in sports broadcasting.
“These kids want to thrive and do something different. There are a few kids I just recruited for sports broadcasting interests because it gives them an opportunity to be involved with sports since they can’t be on the field,” he said.
There are current students who agree there should be a sports broadcasting degree.
Michael Brody, a sophomore at Olivet Nazarene University majoring in Multimedia Communication with a concentration in journalism, is in COMM 399: Sports Broadcasting and explained that sports broadcasting is a way for an individual to express themselves in an artistic way. Students get experience in storytelling, producing, writing and editing. Brody said students are all relying on digital media where journalism is becoming a dying degree.
An article by SportMont expressed the changes in sports broadcasting. “Due to changes in the media environment as a result of advancements in digital technology, the number of people participating in personal broadcast production and viewing is gradually increasing.”
Sport analytics within sports broadcasting has defined student interests because of the journalism and researching aspect. Kode Johnson, a freshman at Olivet Nazarene University majoring in Multimedia Communication with a concentration in Radio and Audio, is interested in sports broadcasting because of the social media and audio production.
I think people need to take sports broadcasting even if they are not interested in it because it’s a cool experience to try and it opens up more opportunities to you.
kode johnson
