Temple University has a rich history of preparing students for successful careers in sports media. Owls are everywhere in the industry, as Philadelphia Eagles broadcaster Merrill Reese of KLN ’64 can attest. ESPN anchor Kevin Negandhi, KLN ’98. Baseball journalist Claire Smith, KLN ’79. USA Basketball Creative Director Saudia Mitchell (KLN ’03)
On Oct. 8, the university approved a new Bachelor of Arts degree in sports media at the Klein College of Media and Communication, advancing efforts to prepare students for careers in sports media.
As the fourth largest media market in the country, Philadelphia is an ideal place for students to study and begin a career in sports media.
“We are excited and proud to launch a new sports media major that builds on Temple’s tradition of developing outstanding talent in the sports media field,” said David Boardman, dean of the Klein College of Media and Communication. I think so,” he said. “This program provides students with the interdisciplinary skills and experience necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving sports media industry.”
The degree program combines courses from all five Klein departments and also includes courses from Temple’s School of Sports, Tourism and Hospitality Management. Lauren Block, director of the sports media major, said this unique interdisciplinary nature allows graduates to work in a variety of sports media roles, from journalists and broadcasters to sports information directors, social media managers, advertisers and sports public relations professionals. says it will prepare them for a career in the field.
“Anyone who needs to cover or promote athletes or sports organizations will get what they need from our curriculum to be successful in that industry,” says Scott, who has taught at Klein University for more than 12 years and has taught at Klein University for more than 12 years. Industry experience with ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, Florida State University, University of Texas at Austin, and Stretch. “This program equips graduates with the knowledge and principles of media and communication organizations so that they can enter the workforce to report and promote responsibly and effectively.”
Temple has offered sports media courses for many years and in the fall of 2021 launched a sports media certificate program through the Claire Smith Sports Media Center. The new major will include existing classes such as sports reporting, the impact of sports media on modern society, and sports media relations.
The program also introduces new classes designed to meet current and future sports media industry demands. One of the new courses is called Communicating Public Engagement through Sport.
“Athletes and organizations often invest time and resources in foundations that are close to their hearts, and we know they are deeply involved in social justice discussions,” Block said. Ta. “This course teaches students how to cover and facilitate these fundamentals and conversations.”
Block said there will be new coursework teaching social media and design principles, which are essential skills in today’s sports media industry. Another new course will focus on communicating sports statistics.
“A lot of sports media relations and journalism is focused on understanding data,” Block said. “We will have a course that teaches students to make sense of game data. They will identify highlights from statistical results and use them to tell stories in game releases, news articles, and social media posts. You need to know how to use it.”
As the fourth largest media market in the country, Philadelphia is an ideal place for students to study and begin a career in sports media. Between the city’s five professional sports teams and a robust ecosystem of major and independent media outlets, internships, hands-on learning, and professional work opportunities abound.
“This is a hotbed of sports media, but it’s not too big like New York City or too small like Harrisburg,” Block said. “This is the perfect place and the right time for our sports media programs to come together.”
In addition to providing access to these many opportunities, Block said Temple is a great place to study sports media because of its strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Masu.
Students learn from faculty who have dedicated their careers to impartial sports media coverage. One of them, Claire Smith, helped expand media access for women in MLB after she was removed from the San Diego Padres’ locker room while covering the 1984 National League Championship Series.
Block said this experience will help graduates of the program make a real impact on their careers.
“When I graduated from Temple University, I felt ready to do my job,” Block said. “I want my students to feel that way. I want them to feel like they’re ready to create opportunities and take on the issues that we see in sports promotion and coverage today. .”
Students will be able to enroll in the new sports media program starting in fall 2025. For more information, please visit our main sports media webpage.
