Marist’s Center for Sports Communication is a global leader in the study of and practice in sports communication, and prepares students for careers in sports journalism, broadcasting, analytics, and much more. The Center has achieved national and international recognition for the unique educational experiences provided to undergraduates. Marist student interns support for the Center’s work under the guidance of dedicated faculty, which grants students unparalleled opportunities and access.
Hands-on Experience that Complements Classroom Learning
The Center for Sports Communication exposes students to the industry with hands-on experience. Examples include:
Partnerships with the Marist Poll and HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on sports-related survey research
A Sports Communication leadership speaker series that has brought CBS sports broadcaster James Brown and Kevin Merida of ESPN sports blog The Undefeated ESPN blog to campus in the past
An academic partnership with the sports public relations think tank Sports PR Summit
Marist's Lifetime Excellence in Sports Communication awards, with past recipients HBO’s Bryant Gumbel, ESPN’s Hannah Storm, and NBC's Bob Costas.
Student-Produced Red Fox Report Airs on Marist ESPN Broadcasts
The Red Fox Report is a live-to-tape sports broadcast that is part of many Marist game broadcasts on ESPN+. It gives students exposure as "on air talent" on the national streaming platform, as well as opportunity to lead behind-the-scenes production. The segment recaps Marist athletic events and is a fully hands-on, student-run sports production. Since its inception in the Fall 2022 semester, the Red Fox Report has grown its participation and impact. Students manage every part of the production from start to finish, gaining key skills to help them grow professionally.
Gain Real-World Experience in Every Facet of Sports Communication
The Center for Sports Communication offers an incredible range of involvement opportunities. Center Field, student-produced podcasts, and sports communication research allow our students to focus their hands-on experiences on specific industries and sports they are most interested in. Explore our exciting involvement opportunities below.
Imagine helping to produce an NCAA Division I basketball game for broadcast while still a college student. That’s exactly the opportunity Marist students have working with the Athletics Department to produce games for ESPN3 and ESPN+. Learn to cut live replays, work different camera positions on the floor, try new techniques, and work your way into the ESPN Teaching Control Room in the McCann Center.
Want to get involved? Contact Director of Athletic Multimedia Nicholas Skidmore at Nicholas.Skidmore@Marist.edu for more information.
Meet Director Dr. Andrew Elrick
The Center for Sports Communication's mission spans the pre-professional, academic, and social aspects of learning. We want to facilitate as many points of contact as possible between students and the industries they aspire to be a part of, while also encouraging them to think critically about some of our society's most important and influential cultural institutions.
Learning is a social and intellectual exercise, so the Center for Sports Communication also acts as a relaxed space where students can hang out with peers (and faculty) who share their interests. We watch sports, share meals, study, or just rip packs of sports cards and reminisce about the players and coaches we find inside.
Sports Communication Students Attend Super Bowl Week
Portfolio development. Networking. Access.
With NFL credentials in hand, five sports communication students attended a variety of media events to cover Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The students attended opening night, radio row to interview media personalities and professional athletes like Patrick Mahomes and Stephen A. Smith, among others. These experiences help students to develop the skills needed to thrive in the sports media industry.
The Perfect Team: Sports Communication and Academics
Marist's BA in Communication with a concentration in Sports Communication takes students beyond team scores and statistics. It requires that students read and analyze sports in new ways, critically examining the role of sports in society and considering such areas as gender, race, and public policy in the context of sports. The program combines ethical and theoretical depth with practical writing and public presentation skills. It further prepares students for careers in sports information and journalism by requiring an internship in the field.
Center Field is the Center for Sports Communication's dynamic, student-run sports publication. Students report, write and edit stories from the campus and beyond.
Students engage in vigorous research, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the industry and learn about unique aspects of sports communication.
Academic Opportunities
Marist's BA in Communication with a concentration in Sports Communication takes students beyond team scores and statistics. It requires that students read and analyze sports in new ways, critically examining the role of sports in society and considering such areas as gender, race, and public policy in the context of sports. The program combines ethical and theoretical depth with practical writing and public presentation skills. It further prepares students for careers in sports information and journalism by requiring an internship in the field.
Journalist Michael Smith Will Be in Residence at the Center for Sports Communication
Smith, a 15-year veteran of ESPN, who was also a reporter for the Boston Globe, brings a wealth of broadcast and print experience to the role. He will teach a course for upper-classmen called "The Interview," focusing on in-depth interviewing techniques.
Additionally, he will host a symposium on a relevant cultural issue in sports and will also meet with larger groups of students through a campus conversation planned for this fall.
A group of Sports Communication students visited the ESPN studios at South St. Seaport and were given an all-access tour by Around the Horn host Tony Reali followed by a lesson in TV theory. Reali had us in-studio for the taping of that day's show and introduced us to ESPN analysts who share the space. It was an incredible behind-the-scenes look at one of the most popular shows on ESPN.
Marist Center for Sports Communication/Marist Poll Results & Analysis:
The Marist Poll and the Center for Sports Communication have collaborated on a survey of sports watching habits in the era of the coronavirus. Sports fans confirm that they are spending significantly less time watching sports now than they have in the past, which ratings have also indicated. Our results also point to some of the reasons behind the drop, including resistance to athletes speaking out in the area of social justice.
The data is broken down by race, gender, and political party among other demographic information. When you look at it, you will see that Democrats and Republicans are reporting different reasons for spending less time watching sports, even though many from all sides of the political spectrum are.
For more on how politics, social justice and the coronavirus are disrupting viewing habits, click here.
Past Events
Thurs. Sept. 10, 6:00 p.m. Bob Costas: Costas currently calls baseball games for the MLB Network, and is a CNN sports analyst. He has covered numerous Olympics as part of his storied career as one of the most credible voices in sports.
Mon. Sept. 14, 11:00 a.m. Prof. Chris Riviezzo broadcast reel workshop: Riviezzo will help students think about how to present their video and digital work to future employers. This will be particularly useful for first-years and sophomores so that they can archive their work as they go.
Wed. Sept. 30, 12:00 p.m. Jemele Hill: One of the few sports reporters President Donald Trump calls by name, Hill has a new podcast with Cari Champion and provides commentary on sports and culture for a number of outlets. She was at ESPN for more than a decade and hosted The Six with former Marist adjunct professor Michael Smith.
Wed. Oct. 7, 12:00 p.m. The Athletic NFL reporter Rhiannon Walker: She covers The Washington Team for The Athletic in an era where the team has been called out for sexual harassment and been forced to change its name after decades of Native American activism. Before that, Walker was at ESPN’s race and culture site, The Undefeated.
Wed. Oct. 21, 12:00 p.m. ESPN's Trey Wingo: Wingo is one of ESPN’s best-known hosts from his work with SportsCenter and NFL Live. He pairs with Mike Golic to host ESPN Radio’s popular morning show. Wingo is able to play information traffic cop in hectic environments, all the while making it look easy and fun.
Wed. Oct. 28, 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Concussion coverage workshop presented by Chris Nowinski's Concussion Legacy Foundation: This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the science of concussions and the commonly-made mistakes in covering and discussing the issue. Too often, we avoid covering things we don’t understand, and this workshop will discuss the injury beyond the context of football.
State of the Unions
Adjunct Professor Michael Smith moderated the State of the Unions in the NYC Executive Center in February. With the WNBPA's executive director Terri Jackson, USWNT Molly Levinson and NFLPA Senior Director of Former Player Services Nolan Harrison, the discussion ranged from current Collective Bargaining Agreements to the unseen benefits players might try to negotiate for. Whether it is a 17-game season or child-care for players, students were able to ask about the intricacies hidden in these dense contracts.
ESPN Producer Chris Riviezzo Named Interim Director of Marist’s Center for Sports Communication
Marist College has named long-time ESPN producer Chris Riviezzo as the Interim Director of the College’s Center for Sports Communication. Riviezzo, who is a Marist alumnus and Dutchess County native, has been a highly regarded studio producer at ESPN for more than two decades, working on productions of some of the biggest events in sports.
Get in the game: Help produce Marist Athletics’ ESPN3 coverage
Learn to cut a replay in a live game setting and all the other skills that could one day get you in the control room for live events coverage. Contact Director of Athletic Multimedia Nicholas.Skidmore@marist.edu for more information.
