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Center for Sports Communication
About the Center for Sports Communication
Marist’s Center for Sports Communication is a global leader in the study of and practice in sports communication, helping to prepare an enlightened and engaged group of future leaders in one of society’s most far-reaching disciplines. The Center has achieved national and international recognition for the unique educational experiences it provides to undergraduates. Marist student interns provide industry-standard support for the Center’s work under the guidance of dedicated faculty, allowing students unparalleled opportunities and access. Some Center successes include creating and hosting a weekly sports show called “The Classroom” on ESPN’s radio network, partnering with both the Marist Poll and HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on sports-related survey research, building a unique speaker series that brings top leaders in the field to campus (including CBS sports broadcaster James Brown and Kevin Merida of ESPN sports blog The Undefeated), and serving as academic partner to the industry-leading Sports PR Summit. The Center has also presented Lifetime Excellence in Sports Communication awards to HBO’s Bryant Gumbel and ESPN’s Hannah Storm.
Involvement Opportunities
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.
Sports Communication Students Visit ESPN Studios
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.
Red Fox Spotlight
Gabriella Ricciardi
Scarsdale, NY
Jack Griffith
Hudson, OH
Meaghan Roche
Rockville Center, NY
Previous News & Events from the Center
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 freshmen 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.
Watch this video of Trey Wingo's Speaker Series event >
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.