Disqus - Latest Comments for staatalent

Re: 01 - January 23, 2019 | Pat Flynn

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:05:15 -0000

I'm fired up for this! Pat always overdelivers. I've hosted conferences but have never attended someone else's event. It was a no-brainer to make FlynnCon my first. Looking forward to it! I echo what Adam Richardson wrote -- thank you for the effort you are putting into the conference.

Re: This was my pre on-air routine. What’s yours?

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:49:48 -0000

Watching the players in pregame is HUGE! Ignorantly, I never did that early in my own play-by-play career. I never thought to. Duh... Thank you for commenting, Andrew!

Re: Receiving Negative Feedback From a Critique

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:47:46 -0000

Exactly. Saying only that someone needs to improve doesn't help.

Always good to hear from you, Bill!

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 17:17:54 -0000

Glad to help. And don't worry -- countless sportscasters who didn't attend Syracuse have had, and are having, wonderful careers.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 13:55:00 -0000

Hi Lisa -- tough call. Your son can't go wrong at either school. Both schools are fabulous for TV sportscasting. ASU might have an edge in radio sportscasting. Your son can't go wrong at either school. If you choose Mizzou for the financial aid, you can sleep well knowing you are still giving your son a fabulous opportunity to be successful and are not compromising those chances in any way.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 12:51:22 -0000

Hi Hyrum. Colleges don't have sport-specific emphasis for sports broadcasting. To get yourself on the road to being a studio host, simply be sure to choose a school that has a student TV station so you can get the necessary reps.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 17:01:01 -0000

You're welcome, Keith. Contact me anytime!

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 13:49:23 -0000

I give the edge to ASU over NW because of the number of grads I see from both getting sports broadcasting jobs each year. ASU has more.

If play-by-play is your goal, sit in the stands at games and practice into an audio recorder as often as you can. If TV sports anchoring and reporting is your goal, set up your phone or computer camera and practice spontaneous, friendly deliveries. Practice smiling while you talk. It conveys warmth.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 12:38:52 -0000

Hi Keith -- thank you for your question. Big props to you to already be thinking about college when you are still a junior in H.S. That's terrific.

ASU is fabulous. I would put it ahead of Northwestern (and NW is VERY good) for sports broadcasting an on par with Syracuse as far as the quality of education you will receive. The one thing Syracuse has that will be hard for anyone to ever match is a deep and involved alumni network that goes back at least 40 years.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 12:39:03 -0000

Hi Hyrum. I know of a couple TV sports broadcasters who graduated from the University of Utah. Other than that, I'm not familiar with any other sports broadcasting options within the state.

Re: Top 5 sports broadcasting schools in 2017

Jon Chelesnik — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:53:41 -0000

Hi Gabby. Unfortunately, I do not know the schools in Canada. I'm sorry I am unable to help.

Re: Top 5 sports broadcasting schools in 2017

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 12:59:23 -0000

Hi Brittany. Colorado State would easily be my first choice within the state. Colorado Mesa College might also be worth taking a look at.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 14:14:08 -0000

Oooh... good call by you on NW Missouri State. That was a good suggestion you received.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 12:45:36 -0000

Hi Judy. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a good program. It's the only one I know of in the state. Good programs in the region are Kansas State, KU and Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA.

I received an email notification that you asked a second question. I don't see it here but will answer anyway. Fortunately, no -- a person doesn't have to be a former athlete to be a sportscaster. The big-name athletes become color commentators but not play-by-play broadcasters. Some also become sports talk show hosts, but the majority are not ex-jocks.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 13:52:54 -0000

They are too new to yet have a track record. Generally, I am VERY skeptical of online broadcasting schools. They are ultra expensive and most students end up being prepared to work only off-air. Hopefully Patrick's school will be different.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:33:53 -0000

Hi Cynthia,

UNT is till good, though not the great program it once was. Former Dallas Cowboys broadcaster Bill Mercer used to teach there. He was one of the best sports broadcasting teachers of all-time. Things understandably dropped off when he left. Still a good program, though. You should feel good about sending your son there.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:47:43 -0000

Hi Bonnie. State schools are usually the most affordable options.

SUNY Oswego seems to have a good program. Plattsburgh and Oneonta MIGHT also have programs. Penn State has a fabulous program.

Please let me know if these schools do indeed have more affordable programs. The information will help be better answer similar questions in the future.

Thank you, Bonnie!

- Jon

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:34:36 -0000

Hi Mike,

Glad the info was helpful.

Brandon Kinnard, Greg Peterson, Tyler Stricker and Neil Herbert are four sportscasters who attended Oshkosh.

Most sports broadcasters in radio and TV will allow your son to watch a show or program behind the scenes. Ours is an industry that is great about paying it forward. Someone helped them along they way so most folks are eager to do the same.

Jon

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 12:56:06 -0000

Hi Mike. Thank you for your question.

Frankly, I didn't know Illinois State has a program. I've yet to meet an on-air sports broadcaster from there. Not to say they don't exist, but I'm surprised I don't know any. Southern Illinois U. and the U. of Illinois seem to put many more folks in the industry.

Wisconsin-Oshkosh would easily top my list. They have a professor, Randall Davidson, who is deeply invested in helping his students succeed. (I assume he is still there but don't know that for sure.)

Western Illinois No.2.

I hope this helps!

Re: Top 5 sports broadcasting schools in 2017

Jon Chelesnik — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:21:41 -0000

Hi Mari -- Syracuse and Northwestern are among the most popular for graduate degrees.

Re: Top 5 sports broadcasting schools in 2017

Jon Chelesnik — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 16:15:40 -0000

Hi Elizabeth -- yes. Your son's participation in sports will not impact his ability to earn a broadcast degree. In fact, his playing experience will help make him a more insightful sports broadcaster.

Re: Top 5 sports broadcasting schools in 2017

Jon Chelesnik — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:35:55 -0000

Hi Olgie,

Sports management and sports analytics are not degrees for sports broadcasters. Management is for people wanting to work in the administrative end of sports. Sports analytics is likely the study of sports performance based upon statistical analysis.

STAA's used to have a full sports broadcasting program in conjunction with a national sports radio network. Today, we do one-one-one coaching as a supplement for someone already enrolled in a 2 or 4-year program.

Re: Top 5 sports broadcasting schools in 2017

Jon Chelesnik — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:31:19 -0000

Hi Drew. I replied to your email featuring this question just moments before I saw you had also posted it here. Please check the email.

Re: Top 20 sports broadcasting schools

Jon Chelesnik — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:22:30 -0000

Oooh... good question, Teresa. Attending a sports broadcasting camp next summer would help considerably. Other ideas are sitting in on a local play-by-play broadcast, TV sportscast or radio sports talk show. That behind the scenes peek will help him visualize the career. Most sportscasters will let him sit in if you simply ask.

Re: Here Is How To Eat Your Way To Sportscasting Success

Jon Chelesnik — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:59:54 -0000

I was the same way. I had to find the line between eating enough at the right time to have sufficient energy without getting sluggish. Adrenaline usually kept me sharp in situations where I otherwise would have been hungry and off my game.