How to Cover Local Teams as a Sports Broadcaster

Video Transcript

"I'm Jamal Spencer for Expert Village, here at ABC 3 here in Lansing, and we're going to talk about how to be a successful sports broadcaster. Statistics show that most people between the ages of 15 and 25 don't watch the news. They either don't care to know or they just don't want to watch because they think it's boring. So be it. So our job is to go to them and show them "Hey, we care about you. We want to have fun." One of the most important things about being a sports caster is getting out and covering your local high schools because you really want to let the community know, "Hey, we're all in this together. We're all one big community. I am not above anyone. I will come to your high school games and watch you and put you on the news." So I can say "Hey, check out this local product here at so and so high school." It's very important that you push the local talent because they are important. They are the future. They're going to go to college. They're going to go to the pros. They will remember they you wanted to interview them when they were in 10th, 11th, 12th grade, weren't making any money, just playing the game they love, trying to win the state championship. They will remember you and they will always give you the first interview. Always. It's very important. You want to talk about local and high school sports because those are the people who watch you. Those parents will turn it on and say, 'Hey, that's my baby on T.V." So you always want to get your local high school sports involved. Let them know they are part of the community. Go to their gyms. Go to their fields. Go to their wrestling matches. Go to their swimming meets. You always want to let them know that, "Hey, you guys are important and we appreciate all you do here in the community. We appreciate how hard you play. And the attention that you're bringing to us." Because if someone in your market wins a state championship, it's kind of like you won one too. It's time to say, "Hey, congratulations to this high school. You're really doing us proud. You won the state title. Let's bring one home again next year. We'll keep covering you." It's very important to get those local and high school sports on T.V. folks. They are Mid-America."