Blog

Tips for sounding conversational in your sports broadcasting

Jon Chelesnik

Recently, I listed to the first demo tape I ever made. I was a sophomore at the Princeton of the Plains, Kansas State University. The cassette (yep – cassette) included mostly sportscasts and live reports from K-State football games for various radio stations around the conference.

As I listened, I blushed with embarrassment. I was bad. The sportscasts sounded scripted and rehearsed because . . . well, they were scripted and rehearsed. Yikes.
Read More

Posted in: Sports Anchoring, Sports Talk Show Hosting

Tips for staying positive when hearing no in your job search

Jon Chelesnik

A sports talk host once called me because they were considering quitting. They had introduced themselves to the right people. They had built relationships. They had improved their craft. Yet, they were repeatedly frustrated in their attempt to move to a larger market.

During our call, I reminded the person that the people who get to the top in sports broadcasting aren’t always the most talented. They are the ones who persevered. Four months later, this person was hired in a large market as a host and programming assistant. They went from doing a daily show as a part-time employee and barely making any money to full-time host in a large market with full-time salary and benefits.

They earned their dream job because they stuck with it.
Read More

Posted in: Job Market

Feeling underappreciated at work? Use this perspective

Jon Chelesnik

When I worked at XTRA in San Diego, one of my co-workers was a legend in the sports broadcasting industry. Chet Forte had been the longtime director of Monday Night Football in the days of Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford and Dandy Don Meredith. After Chet’s well-publicized gambling problems forced him off the broadcasts, he got his life in order then got back into broadcasting working as a sports talk host at our station.

Chet passed away while employed at XTRA Sports. The entire staff wanted to attend the funeral to give respect to Chet and support to his family. Chet had been great to all of us – so kind, generous, and fun. I especially enjoyed attending the high school basketball city championship with Chet, after which he treated me to dinner at a nearby Black Angus steak house.

We all owed a debit of gratitude and appreciation to Chet.
Read More

Posted in: My Career

What’s better to wear on TV – coat and tie or polo?

Jon Chelesnik

In 2003, I was doing play-by-play and sideline reporting for a startup TV network called The Football Network. It was all football all the time, before the NFL Network.

The first several broadcasts we did we wore coats and ties. About a month later, management gave us polo shirts with the company logo and asked us to wear them for our next broadcast. Ironically, the game was in my hometown of San Diego.
Read More

Posted in: Play-by-play, TV Sports Reporting

Critical components of a TV sports anchor/reporter demo

Jon Chelesnik

A TV news director was hiring a sports anchor/reporter. One applicant caught his attention but his reel featured a highlights montage and nothing else. The employer liked what he saw but didn’t ask the applicant to send additional video. He already had enough similarly qualified applicants whose reels provided what he needed.

Don’t miss out on a job because your reel is improperly constructed.
Read More

Posted in: TV Sports Reporting