Photo of Manhattan University Sports Production Truck interior shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY PHOTOSHELTER \/ COURTESY\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zendrah Bonnick\u00a0Asst. News Editor<\/p>\n
Manhattan University\u2019s (MU) sports media production has been live-streaming games with ESPN+ as part of its coursework for the past few years. The Quadrangle was able to obtain interviews with some members of the sports production team including Sadie Fox, Vivian Nartey and Joe Ruggiero, sports producer and director, to gain more insight on the program.<\/p>\n
Ruggiero, who teaches advanced sports media production, spoke to The Quadrangle about how sports media production first came to MU.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt had just started right as I came in,\u201d Ruggiero said. \u201cThe communication department\u00a0 at Manhattan University purchased a production truck to facilitate the needs of the conference that we\u2019re in\u2026 once they had the production truck and [sports media production] concentration in place, they then reached out and did the process to hire the producer and director, and that\u2019s where my role came in.\u201d<\/p>\n
During his interview, Ruggiero later discussed how students get involved with sports production at MU.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can take my classes as an elective, [whether] you took [similar] classes before, or just want to get involved,\u201d Ruggiero said. \u201cEven if you\u2019re not working games, if you\u2019re just a student that\u2019s super interested and you want to get involved in the production truck, I invite everybody to make an appointment. I\u2019ll show them around the production truck\u2026we\u2019ll train on a specific piece of equipment in the truck, or cameras, or replay system, graphic system, whatever it might be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sadie Fox, a junior studying English and communication with a sports media concentration, commented on her experience as a part of the sports production team during an interview over email with The Quadrangle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had previous experience in production technology through my experience with Manhattan Media Network and some other personal projects,\u201d Fox wrote in an email to the Quadrangle. \u201cHowever, previous experience is not necessary. Our producer, Joe Ruggerio, and returning classmates all work together to teach each other how to do everything and make the experience as easy as possible. Most of the things I have needed for the class I have learned over time through trial and error and from the other people in the class.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruggiero further elaborated on the different ways students learn production in a more hands-on course.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can shadow a game, they can sit next to somebody and watch a position how they do, they can shadow how we set up the broadcast and how we break down the broadcast,\u201d Ruggiero said. \u201cA lot of the helpful teaching, even if people get to my class for the first time and they haven\u2019t done any [production] before that, a lot of the great teaching comes from the other students in the class.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vivian Nartey, a senior majoring in communication with a concentration in sports media production, commented on training, and about how producing live television can be a daunting and exciting opportunity. She told The Quadrangle what advice she had for students who want to get involved, but are nervous.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo to the games first because that\u2019s probably the best experience\u2026\u201d Nartey said. \u201cPay attention to how they\u2019re doing stuff during their production. What kind of story are they trying to tell? Because a lot of it is storytelling about \u2018who\u2019s the favorite to win this game?\u2019 or \u2018who are the best players in this game?\u2019 and you\u2019ll see the story come alive through the way that the announcers talk about certain players, or certain camera cuts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fox elaborated further on the many roles that go into live sports production at MU.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a normal game, we have about nine students working in different positions,\u201d Fox wrote. \u201cThere are students working cameras on the court, a student working to let the officials know when to resume play after time-outs and four students in a truck outside that work the switchboard, graphics, stats and instant replay\u2026 Joe Ruggiero has to plan a lot before and after games, along with teaching us during live broadcasts, to make the games run smoothly, but also make it fun for the students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruggiero told The Quadrangle about the growth of the sports production program, and how high morale and teamwork played a big role in the production team\u2019s successes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started with two students in the class, because nobody knew what it was yet, now our class has a roster of 19, which is the most we\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Ruggiero said. \u201cEvery year, it goes up a few and a few, and it seems like we\u2019re getting pretty popular. I\u2019m liking that because we\u2019re only as good as the students that we have\u2026 I rely on them because they really do produce a lot of what we do in our productions. Without them, I don\u2019t have a job, [so] I am always very thankful to my students.\u201d<\/p>\n
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