BSM Writers
Getting Starting Without Experience By Mattie Lou Chandler
Young people often ask me “how do I get started in the media business”? It should be easy to answer, but it’s not. That’s because everyone travels a different path to their first break.
In many cases, internships are an advantage. They help you get your foot in the door. Then it’s up to the individual to work their tail off and prove that they have that extra-something that stands out. During my programming days I’d have my Assistant Program Directors oversee the process, and we’d identify 1 or 2 of the 10-15 people who came through the door that were worth holding onto at the end of the quarter. When interns know that their hard work could result in a future job at the radio station, they’re more inclined to give their best effort.
But what if an internship isn’t an option? Some stations require college credit to get inside the building. In my opinion, that’s one of the silliest rules in our industry. Why would a radio station turn down free help? Especially from people who see the internship as their one big shot? I know insurance salesmen, bartenders, callers, and contest winners who occupy the airwaves in major markets today. If someone has talent, passion, and dedication, that’s what should matter most. If a radio station hadn’t allowed me to intern (without being in college at the time), I’d have never gone on to program in three top 20 markets, produce some of the industry’s top national shows, and host my own program.
If there’s one advantage today that didn’t exist when I was working my way up, it’s that the internet and social media have created platforms for people to develop their skills and expand their connections. Every aspiring broadcaster has the opportunity to podcast, record videos on YouTube, and establish a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Periscope.
I’ve said this many times, there’s no excuse for young media professionals to not seek out program directors, corporate executives, talent, and producers on social media. The worst someone can do is deny your request. If they accept it, you get a chance to interact, and understand who they are, and what they value. That relationship has potential to one day lead to opportunity IF you have talent and the fit they’re looking for. Most jobs in this business are filled through word of mouth, internal connections, and external relationships. It’s a lot harder to be unknown to a hiring manager, and land a great position based on submitting an email or filling out an application.
Since starting my own company, Barrett Sports Media, I’ve had a chance to spend more time researching people, listening to different markets, and reading websites that I didn’t get a chance to enjoy as much in the past. One site that I’ve spent more time reading lately has been Outkick The Coverage. It’s run by Fox Sports personality Clay Travis, and features a good mix of sports coverage, media topics, and pop culture.
It’s on Outkick The Coverage that I became familiar with Mattie Lou Chandler. When she first reached out expressing interest in writing a column for the website I was unfamiliar with her background. I’m not a viewer of the Bachelor or Bachelorette, so I had to venture into unfamiliar territory and read her recaps of the show to get an idea of her style. What I discovered was that her writing was conversational, inviting, and very entertaining. In one of her recaps she said “If I make a joke that Johnny Manziel is currently going through his 2007 Brittney Spears phase, you better laugh“. It was hard not to chuckle and continue reading.
That left me wondering though if she had an ability to write deeper content. After doing some research, I landed on a story she wrote about Jameis Winston. The headline read, “A Victim’s Perspective on Jameis Winston and FSU“. In the article, she opened up about some of her personal experiences and how they related to the story, in addition to sharing her opinion on how Jameis Winston conducts himself. I was impressed with her willingness to put a personal side of herself on display because not everyone has the courage to do that.
After sorting through a number of her stories, and getting familiar with her witty, sarcastic, light hearted, and direct personality on Twitter (how can you not appreciate the opening line on her profile – “Attempting to combat the Wussification of America“), I touched base to ask her what she’d like to write about. After brainstorming some ideas Mattie Lou came up with the column you’re about to read. I think you’ll find it really helpful if you’re looking to open the doors and develop a career in the industry. Especially if you’re female.
There are a few areas that I think are especially valuable. From the way she got her break, to her approach to social media, to discovering the importance of finding your own niche and being willing to sacrifice and work multiple jobs at once, if it’s something you want bad enough it can be accomplished.
This story is refreshing because it reminds me that working in sports media still remains attractive to many people. When you get paid to do a job that you love, and invest everything you have in becoming great at it, there’s no telling how far you can go. But don’t take it from me, hear it instead from Mattie Lou Chandler.
Getting Started Without Experience
A female, in sports, who has zero experience. Two and a half years ago, that’s what I was. Sitting in the cube farm of corporate finance, miserable. My dad had a rule when I was little, you’ll watch an hour of SportsCenter each day during the summer before he watched My Pretty Pony or something of the sort with me. His reasoning was that it would make me well rounded and I could converse with boys and girls. It’s not only paid dividends, but it spurned my love of sports. Okay, I’d be lying if I said growing up spending Saturdays in Athens, Georgia and witnessing three BCS National Championships while in college didn’t help significantly.
While in college at The University of Alabama, I could never decide what I wanted to major in. It’s a common dilemma for many students, but I couldn’t settle on anything. Attending a school that is so immersed in sports, my parents quite frequently asked, “Why don’t you go into broadcasting and be like Erin Andrews?” I usually came back with some response about every division one school popping out fifty or so EA wannabe’s a semester, and not being interested or “do you realize how pretty she is?” What did I decide on? That would be Finance, General Business, and Computer Science.
So, how did I get to where I am now? Well, insert Outkick the Coverage, Clay Travis, and Twitter. Clay created a now extremely popular website that’s hosted by a major network, but it has a unique component. The Bull Pen, where you can submit articles in the hopes of them getting published. Everyone at Alabama follows and knows Clay. I was a huge fan of his so imagine my surprise when an email from him appeared in my gmail account saying I needed to write the Bachelor recaps for OKTC. Long story short, my best friend submitted our pledge class recaps and well, the rest is history. Except, the Bachelor isn’t sports.
This is where the necessity of social media comes in. To say I have a love hate relationship with it would be the understatement of a lifetime. As Chrissy Teigen put it, “females in sports have the worst mentions in Twitter.” How bad? My first hate tweet is framed in my house. It was like a badge of honor, which is ridiculous, almost like I had gained some credibility. I created my OKTC Twitter towards the end of my first season of The Bachelor recaps. I thought it would instantly take off and I would get a lot of followers quickly, but not so much. You have to be interacting constantly, it’s the nature of the beast. This is how I started to weave in sports to prove that I could offer more than just Bachelor recaps. College Football and golf, are my first loves, so that’s what my Twitter content consists of.
Social Media is an incredible tool if you utilize it properly. Not only do you have to constantly be active, but you have to differentiate yourself. It won’t be enough to be a not completely unfortunate looking blonde who knows some fun facts about football and golf. The best advice I got before I walked into my first agency meeting was, “don’t walk in there and say you want to be the next Erin Andrews.” What do you want to do? How do you want to be presented? Whoa. I needed to hear that a week before the meeting, not twenty minutes prior.
Six months after writing for Clay and Outkick, I met him in person. The internet is a weird place and I have entirely too many “internet friends” that are in the industry that I’ve either never met or have only seen a few times, and we all think it’s normal. I digress, Clay wrote a book called “Dixie Land Delight Tour” where he went to every SEC school in one season. Our meeting was in the summer before the inaugural season of the College Football Playoff and he suggested given my deep experience with tailgating in the SEC that I go on a version of his book and write about it from a female’s perspective. “Wait, you’re going to pay me to tailgate and talk about college football? Is this real?”
This is how I was going to differentiate myself. I wasn’t going to try and talk x’s and o’s, because while I know the basics and have learned a lot, I’m far from an expert. So I don’t try to be. I’m a southern belle, but I’m witty and can be a guy’s girl. It’s the wholesome, girl next door vibe that comes with the sassy side you never saw coming. I realized this would benefit me greatly for the audience I was writing for, but I had to play to my strengths. You have to know your demographic and target audience.
As I stated before, being a female in this business can be brutal. There are good days and bad days. You’re going to have to work harder than the men sometimes, and that’s okay. I’m sure you’re all thinking, “wait, you just walked into this job with no journalism experience?” Yes, Clay gave me an opportunity to get my foot in the door, BUT while I quit the corporate world, I’ve worked as a nanny for at least forty hours a week. I then go on the road for three days during the season, and am back at the nanny house at 5:30am on Monday’s.
If you want to be in this industry, you have to go all in. You have to send the DMs to the random radio station that followed you to beg for a segment. You have to check Twitter and get your opinion out when your friends are begging you to get off your phone. You have to write a bunch of articles that will never get published, and you have to take the ones that offer to help you and provide you with advice. Poor Todd Fuhrman, I’m sure he regrets ever offering to help me as we now talk daily about different stories and the best way to approach things. Most importantly, you have to want it, or this business will eat you alive.
I still have much to learn, and I’m just getting started. In two and a half years I’ve gone from writing Bachelor recaps to heading into my third season covering college football for a major network’s website. I appear frequently on radio show’s across the country, have developed a decent social media following, and I’ve had the opportunity to interview for additional opportunities….all while still nannying.
Don’t go into sports journalism for the money. You’ll more than likely be disappointed. To say it’s been an interesting ride would be an incredible understatement, but it’s only the beginning. Don’t worry if you don’t have a journalism degree or don’t think you know enough. Reach out to people in the industry whose work you respect, and the good one’s will be more than happy to help. In most cases, someone did the same for them. All that matters is getting that one opportunity to get your foot in the door, but you have to continuously build off of it.
Mattie-Lou Chandler is a writer and media personality for Outkick The Coverage and Fox Sports. To connect with her or book a future media appearance, follow her on Twitter @MattieLouOKTC or on Instagram @MattieLouC.
BSM Writers
Barrett Sports Media Presents ‘The 2024 NFL Analyst Draft’
“Some selections you’ll agree with, others you won’t, and it’ll likely lead to texts and social media interactions among industry folks.”
Draft fever has returned! As the eyes of the nation turn to the NFL Draft on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, BSM is once again tapping into the week by doing things in a less conventional way. We’ve had PD’s draft talent, talent draft talent, talent draft guests, and reporters draft all-time sports TV shows. We’ve even done a lazy sports radio draft among the BSM staff. While we recognize this is a big week for football fans, we see it as an opportunity to use our creativity to produce content that is interesting, entertaining, and connected to a topical event.
Having said that, this year we decided to do our first NFL Analyst Draft. The rules for this were simple, whether an individual talks football in a TV booth, radio booth, TV studio, or digital platform, if they’re exceptional at explaining the game and sharpening the minds of football fans, they’re eligible to be drafted.
As you review the results, you’ll notice that the draft order is based on the actual NFL Draft. We involved hosts in each NFL city or called upon a talent who has an affinity for the franchise picking in that spot. Some selections you’ll agree with, others you won’t, and it’ll likely lead to texts and social media interactions among industry folks. It may even become on-air content. I thank all 32 participants for making time to be a part of the process, and now present you with the results of BSM’s 2024 NFL Analyst Draft.
Enjoy!
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- 1. Danny Parkins, 670 The Score: GREG OLSEN, FOX SPORTS
- 2. Grant Paulsen, 106.7 The Fan: CHARLES DAVIS, CBS SPORTS
- 3. Andy Gresh, WEEI: TOM BRADY, FOX SPORTS
- 4. Dave Burns, Arizona Sports: LOUIS RIDDICK, ESPN
- 5. Rob Parker, Fox Sports Radio: RYAN CLARK, ESPN
- 6. Shaun Morash, WFAN: TIKI BARBER, CBS SPORTS
- 7. Dawn Davenport, 104.5 The Zone: JASON MCCOURTY, CBS SPORTS
- 8. Chris Dimino, 680 The Fan: PHIL SIMMS, CBS SPORTS
- 9. Marc Silverman, ESPN Chicago: KYLE BRANDT, NFL NETWORK
- 10. Brandon Tierney, WFAN: ROSS TUCKER, CBS SPORTS/Westwood One
- 11. Phil Mackey, SKOR North: BRETT KOLLMANN, UNDERDOG
- 12. Zack Bye, Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan: MARK SCHLERETH, FOX SPORTS
- 13. Q Myers, ESPN Las Vegas/ESPN Radio: AMBER THEOHARIS, WESTWOOD ONE
- 14. Matt Moscona, 104.5 ESPN: MARCUS SPEARS, ESPN
- 15. Andy Sweeney, 107.5/93.5 The Fan: DAN ORLOVSKY, ESPN
- 16. Bob Stelton, Seattle Sports 710: PEYTON MANNING, OMAHA PRODUCTIONS
- 17. Mia O’Brien, 1010XL: DANIEL JEREMIAH, NFL NETWORK
- 18. Mo Egger, ESPN 1530: MINA KIMES, ESPN
- 19. Allen Sliwa, ESPN Los Angeles: TROY AIKMAN, ESPN
- 20. Andrew Fillipponi, 93.7 The Fan: BEN ROETHLISBERGER, CHANNEL SEVEN PRODUCTIONS
- 21. Marc Hochman, WQAM: MICHAEL IRVIN, NFL NETWORK
- 22. Tyrone Johnson, 97.5 The Fanatic: KIRK HERBSTREIT, PRIME VIDEO
- 23. Judd Zulgad, SKOR North: NATE BURLESON, CBS SPORTS
- 24. Gavin Dawson, 105.3 The Fan: TONY ROMO, CBS SPORTS
- 25. Steve ‘Sparky’ Fifer, 1250AM The Fan: CHAD REUTER, NFL NETWORK
- 26. Jay Recher, WDAE: BOOGER MCFARLAND, ESPN
- 27. Jody Oehler, FOX Sports 910: CHRIS SIMMS, NBC SPORTS
- 28. Maggie Gray, Infinity Sports Network: BOOMER ESIASON, CBS SPORTS
- 29. Jim Costa, 97.1 The Ticket: MEL KIPER JR., ESPN
- 30. Ken Weinman, 105.7 The Fan: BRIAN BALDINGER, NFL NETWORK
- 31. Daryle ‘Guru’ Johnson, 95.7 The Game: CRIS COLLINSWORTH, NBC SPORTS
- 32. Carrington Harrison, 610 Sports: MICHAEL STRAHAN, FOX SPORTS
Jason Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Sports Media. Prior to launching BSM he served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He has also produced national shows for ESPN Radio including GameNight and the Dan Patrick Show. You can find him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or reach him by email at [email protected].
BSM Writers
Industry Guest Column: Howard Balzer Recalls the First NFL Draft on ESPN
We didn’t even have a production meeting before the telecast and I’m not sure I even knew who else would be on with me until my arrival in Connecticut.
Howard Balzer is beginning his 49th year covering pro football and currently covers the Arizona Cardinals for cardswire.usatoday.com. He has been a Hall of Fame selector for 20 years and is co-host of the weekly Pro Football Hall of Fame show on Sirius/XM NFL Radio. You can follow Howard on X @HBalzer721. Howard was an analyst on the first nine NFL Draft shows on ESPN and shares some memories for today’s guest column:
The call came to my desk at The Sporting News in St. Louis several weeks before the 1980 NFL Draft.
I had been with the publication for two years and had started writing a weekly NFL notebook (even in the offseason) the year before. That was a leap for the venerable Baseball Bible at the time, but I convinced then-managing editor Lowell Reidenbaugh that we should expand our coverage of the NFL.
But a bigger leap was what ESPN wanted to do.
The decision to televise the draft had been made in February of that year amid a certain level of skepticism. In fact, when ESPN president Chet Simmons first approached Pete Rozelle with the idea, the commissioner wondered, “Why would you want to do that? Who the heck would want to watch the NFL Draft?”
Eventually, the league’s vice president of broadcasting, Val Pinchbeck, convinced Rozelle it would be a good idea.
So it was that about six months after ESPN had launched in September 1979, the call from a producer at the network came.
ESPN was quickly figuring out all the nuts and bolts of the broadcast, and the question to me from the producer was whether they could use our mock draft on the show.
I assured him that was fine, but then explained the pitfalls. Not only was the mock draft finalized 11 days before the Tuesday draft, but once it invariably blew up in the early part of the first round, it might not be very useful.
Having some experience on St. Louis radio, my bold suggestion was that we coordinate a phone hookup, and they could bring me on at different times to discuss what had happened and what could be coming next.
Not a bad idea, I was told, and they said they’d get back to me. Which they did with the shocking (to me) question, “How would you like to come to Bristol, and be on the broadcast?”
We didn’t even have a production meeting before the telecast and I’m not sure I even knew who else would be on with me until my arrival in Connecticut. That turned out to be host Bob Ley, former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Vince Papale and Upton Bell, a former Patriots general manager and son of former NFL commissioner Bert Bell.
As can be seen from the featured image, the four of us were seated around a coffee table with papers strewn about and newspapers visible on the floor.
We just talked when they came to us from New York where host George Grande was with former NFL general manager Joe Thomas.
Ley told The Athletic on the draft’s 40th anniversary, “When we got off the air I think everybody realized not only did we survive, but that was pretty damn good. While you’d never want to be a prisoner of your reviews, they were positive and I think even the most hardened and objective of us would say we hit a nerve and seemed to have done OK.”
Most significant was the decision to run it back in 1981.
Who knew that now, 44 years later, the draft would be must-see TV, telecast on three networks and would have cities bidding to host it every year.
As executive producer Bill Fitts told The Athletic, “There’s no possible way I could have imagined it would turn into this. I wasn’t even sure we would make Year Two.”
There certainly were seminal moments along the way as more highlights of players from their college career were available and talent was sent to different venues to report.
In 1981, Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated joined the show and famously said after quarterback Rich Campbell was selected sixth overall by the Packers, “They lied to me. I’ll never talk to them again.
Dr. Z was accustomed to being told the truth during his pre-draft discussions with teams, but all bets were off with it now being televised.
The next year, I was “promoted” to New York and while sitting at our small table, I heard a distinctive voice with a New York accent, say, “Hey Paul, keep your eye on Jeff Bryant. He’s moving up on everybody’s list.”
That voice was the reclusive Joel Buchsbaum of Pro Football Weekly, who had been rarely seen in public. Late in the broadcast, with his scraggly hair and Notre Dame sweatshirt, he was interviewed on the broadcast. Had Joel been a tad more telegenic, there might never have been a Mel Kiper, who was on for the first time in 1984 from Bristol. Oh, by the way, the relatively unknown Bryant was selected sixth overall by the Seahawks.
My nine years on the broadcast included two years in Bristol, four in New York, one at 49ers headquarters when there was a power outage in the facility that kept us off the air for a while, one at NFL Films and one in Anaheim at Rams headquarters for what was my final appearance in 1988.
My final year (1986) in New York was memorable. I was at a large draft board that had player rankings with Chris Berman, but no one knew who had put the board together. One of Berman’s funny lines came when he commented on mine and Kiper’s hair!
Following the draft, I suggested to Fitts that if they planned to continue with the board, Kiper should be identified as the architect because that was the essence of his expertise.
Sure enough, he was moved from Bristol to New York the next year and Mel’s Big Board was born.
The actual board might not be as big now as it was then, but the draft itself only gets bigger and bigger over three days with two in prime time.
It’s humbling and gratifying to have been there at its birth.
BSM Writers
Meet the Bettors: Nick Kostos, BetQL Network
“We can please the audience that’s looking for analysis of games that night and we can bring on really great guests.”
Demetri Ravanos is the Assistant Content Director for Barrett Sports Media. He hosts the Chewing Clock and Media Noise podcasts. He occasionally fills in on stations across the Carolinas. Previous stops include WAVH and WZEW in Mobile, AL, WBPT in Birmingham, AL and WBBB, WPTK and WDNC in Raleigh, NC. You can find him on Twitter @DemetriRavanos and reach him by email at [email protected].
