January 29, 2014
Interview Assignment
Section 1: Interviewee Justin WilsonNorth Carolina State University
Assistant Athletics Communications Director Mailing Address: Box 8507/Raleigh, NC 27695
Physical Address: Valentine Commons 3101 Stanhope Ave., Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 Office: 919-‐515-‐1180 Cell: 919-‐803-‐4563 Email: [email protected] Section 2: Summary
The interview with Justin Wilson gave me a different perspective on the “behind the
scenes” aspects of collegiate athletics. His focus includes softball, volleyball and men’s and women’s rifle. The Assistant Athletic Director for Communications is the liaison between media outlets such as ESPN and the team he represents.
Career Information:
• Try to get as much experience as possible in whatever field you are trying to pursue. • Whenever you get the opportunity to
volunteer, use that chance to get your “feet in the door.”
Communication Information:
• Writing and communication skills are a necessity.
• Having the ability to work in groups is an important trait.
• There is no such thing as a “typical day.” Every day is different.
Encouragement:
• Network as much as possible. Just having your name around areas will help you.
• Practice writing, communicating, and public speaking skills.
• Do something that makes you stand out from others. Section 3: Thoughts
Being an assistant athletic communications director at a major university has many positives as well as cons. Wilson stated that even though he loves his jobs, it could bring many stressors along with it. Most of the country receives news, including sports updates and stats from various games, through one of the many social networks available today. The main job, or as Wilson put it, “the arms behind the operations” is getting those stats to commentators, coaches, and other media outlets so that they can be shared. They are also responsible for writing the press releases before and after games. This interview intrigued me because I always wondered how commentators and websites were able to get game stats so quickly. Wilson explained that there are many statistical programs that they have that make it easy to accumulate these stats. Overall, this job is still very interesting and one that I would not mind exploring more. Wilson stated that as long as you have great
communication, networking, people, and writing skills, you will be very successful in his field.
Questions
Contact Information: Justin Wilson
North Carolina State University
Assistant Athletics Communications Director Mailing Address: Box 8507/Raleigh, NC 27695
Physical Address: Valentine Commons 3101 Stanhope Ave., Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27607
Office: 919-‐515-‐1180 Cell: 919-‐803-‐4563 Email: [email protected]
Job Description: Justin Wilson is part of a staff for NCSU athletics that is
responsible for media relations and communications dealing with WolfPack sports.
Wilson’s duties also include providing training materials and aids to students and coaches. He writes and assists in the editing of press releases for the athletic department.
A formal Job Description for Justin is as follows:
Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Primary Purpose of Position: The Assistant Director of Communications is responsible for creating media awareness, producing publications and publicity and working to extend the
brand and message of NC State University Athletics. The position will serve as the primary athletics communications contact for the volleyball, softball and rifle programs.
Duties and Responsibilities:
-‐Serve as the primary media relations and communications contact for the volleyball, softball and rifle programs
-‐Serve as primary NC State Athletics liaison between assigned sport programs and national, regional and local media, as well as the public.
-‐Develop communications strategies to reach national and regional media and supporters to generate revenue consistent with the mission of NC State Athletics.
-‐Develop and provide media training/instruction to student-‐athletes, coaches and administration.
-‐Foster and maintain positive relations with media representatives from the electronic and print media.
-‐Research, write and release a high volume of sports publications and other materials as directed to the appropriate media, conference and national offices, websites, etc.
-‐ Create solutions and ideas to promote, brand and market programs via all available social media channels and traditional media channels.
-‐ Produce video content as applicable.
-‐Oversee management of press box at various on-‐campus sporting events including hiring, supervision and instruction for all applicable game staffing, logistics and technical
requirements.
-‐Serve as host to members of the media at games and events.
-‐Develop design concept, write and produce online media guides, news releases and other printed material when necessary.
-‐Coordinate media operations at all home events for assigned sports. -‐Travel with the softball team to all away contests.
-‐Compile statistics and maintain records.
-‐Report statistics and information to Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA offices.
-‐Nominate and promote student-‐athletes for conference, regional and All-‐America honors. -‐Assist with content/maintenance of the GoPack.com athletics website, as well as
photography archives
-‐Promote the overall vision for volleyball, softball, rifle and entire athletics program. -‐Maintain knowledge of the rules and policies of the NCAA, ACC and University as it relates to this position to insure compliance
Other Work Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned.
Adhere to all institution, conference and NCAA rules and regulations.
Report all known NCAA violations in accordance with institutional, conference and NCAA policies and guidelines.
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism or related field.
Minimum of two years experience in sports information/athletic media relations required. The applicant must be familiar with InDesign and Photoshop.
Preferred:
Preference will be given to applicants with experience in an athletics communications office at a four-‐year college or university.
Experience with StatCrew/TAS statistical software and Netitor is preferred. Experience in new media is helpful, as is experience in branding/marketing. Organizational Chart:
Athletic Director for Media Relations
Associate Communications Director Assistant Communications Director Assistant Communications Director Communications Assistant Assistant Communications Director Communications Assistant Assistant Communications Director
Also included is an organization chart for each sport for the entire NC State Athletics:
NC STATE ATHLETICS
THE "TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM"
eff: 1/15/14Supervisor Sport Administrative Assistant Business Operations Game Marketing Communications Sports Medicine Conditioning Strength & Ticket Office Video Baseball Sherard Clinkscales Jessica Delk Trudy Rains Demar Bonnemer
e
Thomas
Lide Cavan Fosnes Josh Geruso Gabe Button TBD Greg Pray
Basketball-‐ M Debbie Yow Chris Boyer Dawn Winters Maggie Lattner Arlene Mabry Adina Stock Thomas
Lide Josh Rattray Ryan Holleman Bob Alejo Brian Kelly
Nima Omidvar Basketball-‐
W Michael Lipitz Felicia Mangum Kate Shirley Arlene Mabry
Demar Bonnemer e
Kara
Kovert Brett Compton Casi Dailey Bryan Tatum Will Chriscoe TBD
Cheerleadi
ng TBD Peggy Ballard Dianne Barksdale Amy Silverthorn Kara Kovert Cavan Fosnes Kristen Mostrom Gabe Button N/A N/A Cross
Country-‐
M/W Doug Strom
Elisabeth
Condrone Trudy Rains Amy Silverthorn Kelly Watson Richard Lee Will Conlon Bob Alejo N/A N/A
Football Debbie Yow Michael Lipitz Natalie Brincefield Denise Ritter
Arlene
Mabry Adina Stock Kara Kovert Annabelle Myers Brian Reinhardt
Phil Hedrick
Tyler MacDonnell
Tetsuo Yamanaka Jason Veltkamp Brian Kelly
Hudson Jordan Golf-‐M Chris Boyer Elisabeth
Condrone Dianne Barksdale Adina Stock Ashley
Trobaugh Brett Compton Nicole Neal Bryan Tatum N/A TBD
Golf-‐W Carrie Doyle Elisabeth Condrone Dianne Barksdale Adina Stock Kelly Watson Josh Rattray Nicole Neal Bryan Tatum N/A TBD Gymnastic
s Georgia Davis Peggy Ballard Dianne Barksdale Adina Stock Thomas Lide Todd Lindenmuth Nicole Neal Wright Wayne Will Chriscoe Greg Pray
Rifle-‐M/W Doug Strom Peggy Ballard Trudy Rains Demar Bonnemer e
Kelly
Watson Justin Wilson Kristen Mostrom Bryan Tatum N/A N/A
Soccer-‐M Sherard Clinkscales Elisabeth Condrone Trudy Rains Demar Bonnemer e
Ashley
Trobaugh Cavan Fosnes Rob Murphy Bob Alejo Will Chriscoe Jim Sherrill
Soccer-‐W Sherard Clinkscales Elisabeth Condrone Trudy Rains Demar Bonnemer e
Kelly
Watson Brett Compton Abby Whiteside Craig Sowers Will Chriscoe Jim Sherrill
Softball Doug Strom Peggy Ballard Dianne Barksdale Amy Silverthorn Kara Kovert Justin Wilson Casi Dailey Wright Wayne N/A Jim Sherrill Swimming
& Diving-‐ M/W
Michelle Lee Elisabeth Condrone Dianne Barksdale Demar Bonnemer e Kelly
Tennis-‐M Michael Lipitz Jessica Delk Trudy Rains Amy Silverthorn Ashley Trobaugh Todd Lindenmuth Josh Geruso Wright Wayne N/A TBD Tennis-‐W Michael Lipitz Jessica Delk Trudy Rains Amy Silverthorn Kelly Watson Richard Lee Josh Geruso Wright Wayne N/A TBD Track &
Field-‐M/W Doug Strom Elisabeth Condrone Trudy Rains Amy Silverthorn Kelly Watson Richard Lee Will Conlon Bob Alejo N/A TBD
Volleyball Sherard
Clinkscales Peggy Ballard
Dianne Barksdale
Amy Silverthorn
Thomas
Lide Justin Wilson Kristen Mostrom Gabe Button N/A Josh Monk
Wrestling Sherard Clinkscales Elisabeth Condrone Trudy Rains Amy Silverthorn Kelly Watson Brian Reinhardt Will Conlon Bryan Tatum N/A Josh Monk
Questions:
What qualifications, educational and otherwise are needed for this position?
Answer: “I think the most important qualification for this position is the ability to write well and speak well…Whether its writing an email, a press release, or a recap, or some type of media that we could be writing that day to prepare for television announcers to use, for writing media to use such as newspapers, radio...and communication is also another important quality.”
How did this professional get their start in the business?
Answer: “I actually got my start in this business doing something similar to what you are doing. I did an interview with Annabelle Myers for my PRT 266 class. After interviewing Annabelle I followed up that summer to see if there was anything that needed to be done or any help around the office. I ended up volunteering over the summer. At the end of the summer, she asked me if I wanted to stay on as a student assistant in the fall. I did that for two years and then after graduating I was promoted to a post-‐graduate intern and after that….I was promoted to assistant director of
communications. I am the primary contact for volleyball, softball and rifle.”
Have him/her describe a “normal” workday in their position.
Answer: “There isn’t really a ‘typical’ workday, it all kind of depends on what comes up and what happens in the world. I’ll give you an example, earlier I was in here
working on some stuff and I got an email from ESPN.com with the preseason softball rankings. So, with that our team received 34 votes and was essentially ranked #27. So, once that comes out, I put everything else I’m working on on pause so I can get that press release out so I can let everyone know our team was ranked 27 in the nation by ESPN.com…So if I had to describe a ‘typical’ day, it would pretty much be updating statistical data, finding more media notes…So when you hear someone say ‘that’s a career high for someone’…that’s [statistics] we’re providing. During the summer is when you have the most typical workday because there aren’t any sports going on.”
Answer: “I would say the mission of this organization is to provide the best
customer service, although we’re not really a customer service organization, we’re kind of like a media service type organization…We strive to have the best relationship with the media. Because the better relationship you have, the better coverage you will get from them.”
Have him/her describe the scope of the organization. Number of employees, Budget , etc.
Answer: “Basically, within the entire athletic department, there are probably more than 200-‐300 employees. Just within our specific department, there are 7 other
individuals that I work with. There are 3 assistant directors of communications, there is one director of communications, there is a director of athletic visual communications, and then there is our assistant athletic director of communications, and then there are 2 athletic communication assistants who are interns. We all work together and are
assigned different sports…so we can better promote our sports and we’re not
overworked. We have probably about a $20,000 budget for each year. Basically that’s to hire photographers…and then we pay a printing company. We also use it to buy media meals.”
What are the biggest challenges & rewards associated with this position?
Answer: “I think one of the biggest challenges is finding time for yourself. This is a business where it can really become very demanding of your time. Especially with sports like basketball and softball, where they’re playing 2-‐3 games per week. You just have to make time for yourself and find time to spend with your family and kids and stuff. One of the best rewards is when you get to travel with winning teams. You go to great places…so pretty much we get to see the world on NC State. And then also, when you have a good winning team, and if they win a championship, we get rings depending on how much a part of the team the coach feels like you are. Another challenge is trying to promote a bad team.”
What advice would he/she give you in your career?
Answer: “The biggest thing about this field is just getting experience. Being able to say you’ve worked this event, you’ve been exposed to this process, you know how this works, you know how that goes. Experience is something you have to go through, you have to see it yourself. You have to get involved and know exactly how this works, and what you have to do.“
What personality has been shown to make you most successful?
Answer: “I think one of the best things about me that allows me to be successful is I don’t really meet strangers at all. I mean, from the time I meet someone, I talk to them and I feel like we’re best friends from a long time. That’s just one of the things about me, is I just love to talk to strangers and I’m always willing to communicate with someone. I
don’t have a problem introducing myself to someone and seeing where they’re from. It’s allowed me to create lasting relationships with people. Being a respectable young man, showing that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. You’d be surprised how far a ‘yes sir’ or ‘yes ma’am’ will go.”
Have you ever had to deal with an unpleasant employee or patron? How did you deal with the situation?
Answer: “Well we definitely have situations in this business where the media could be disappointed or upset with us, the same way a coach can be upset with us if
something leaks out before it’s supposed to leak out. For example, TJ Warren didn’t play against Maryland and the media could have gotten upset because they felt like we didn’t release the information quick enough. All of the newspapers want to be the first to release saying TJ Warren won’t be playing tonight. On the flipside, if coaches find out the media got a hold of that information before they should’ve, then they could’ve been upset with us. So, it’s just kind of like a balance trying to figure out how to make each party feel like they’re included in the decision making.
What characteristics do you look for in an employee?
Answer: “First of all, you have to have to have the ability to write well. Another thing is communication. Another thing would be how you work with a team, because we’re an 8 person staff here, so we have each other’s backs and help out with everything.
Someone who’s willing to go the extra mile. Not someone who’s looking for an 8-‐5 type of job because this isn’t it. Someone who has a passion for sports because obviously you’ll be around sports all of the time.
How do you handle your attitude in the workplace (carry yourself) when something goes wrong?
Answer: “The biggest thing is always staying composed, never letting anyone know you’re flustered. You always have to make sure you keep your temper and are level headed and don’t show anyone you’re upset. Because, if you show that you’re upset, others will become upset as well. There might be a case where someone else is upset with you, and I think one of the things is trying to figure out what they are upset about. Once someone feels like you’re doing all that you can for them, they usually calm down. The calmer you can explain the situation to someone, the calmer they will react.
What skills do you think are important as a manager?
Answer: “I guess one of the most important skills is the ability to communicate. Another thing would be staying organized. Making sure that you stay on schedule. Another one is not being afraid to speak to someone and tell them something that needs to be told to hold your employees accountable for their actions.”
Answer: “I am responsible for volleyball, softball, and men’s and women’s rifle.”
Describe a typical “game day” workday?
Answer: “We print off the stats for media timeouts so the media can update it on their websites, twitter, and other resources to get game day statistics out to the public. We also provide food for the media.”
