UC students get high-level experience in sports broadcasting
Collaboration with ESPN+, Bengals gives students needed skills and experience
As anyone who has spent time working in the broadcasting industry can attest to, experience is the most important factor in getting into the business and advancing.
For students like Ethan Herzog enrolled in the Media Production Program at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), opportunities to get that crucial hands-on experience happen on a regular basis.
Herzog is among a handful of media production students who are working in a variety of roles in ESPN+ broadcasts of UC Bearcat sporting events through a partnership between UC Athletics and CCM.
Joe Brackman is an assistant professor in the media production division and was hired in 2020 to help get the sports media classes up and running. The program had one class offering the first year, and that has grown to five currently.
“We’ve been student-centered from the start,” Brackman says. “We identified that there’s a lot of good reasons why it makes sense to use students in these productions, but you’ve got to provide them with the proper training in order to produce a show that everyone can be proud of.”
Ethan Herzog is among a handful of media production students who are working in a variety of roles in ESPN+ broadcasts of UC Bearcat sporting events through a partnership between UC Athletics and CCM. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Brackman says on a typical broadcast of a Bearcats basketball game, of the crew of 28 people working the production, 20 to 25 will be media production students.
“It’s good having some professionals in the room to hold down some areas because not only can you up our production value but they are also training the students as we go,” Brackman says. “With that academic link to it and the classes linked to it, we are able to develop these students while creating a broadcast that everyone feels really comfortable with, including ESPN.”
Ethan Herzog looks out at Nippert Stadium. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Brackman also helped establish a partnership with the Cincinnati Bengals for students to get experience working as camera operators at Paycor Stadium for Bengals games as well as other events, including the Cincinnati Music Festival.
“[Bengals game day event manager] Alex Schweppe and his boss Will Blackwell reached out to me in 2020 when they came on board,” Brackman says. “That was how we formed our partnership. The first season we had seven students that worked for them on game day in the control room doing various jobs.”
“The partnership between the Bengals and Joe Brackman, along with the Media Production Program at CCM, has been nothing short of remarkable,” Schweppe says. “Since teaming up in 2021, it’s a synergy that brings together the expertise and passion of the team with fresh perspectives and talents of the students.
“Joe has been instrumental in bridging the gap between the professional world of sports media and the educational environment at CCM. His dedication to delivering talent and providing them with real-world experience is truly commendable. Through the collaboration, students have had the opportunity to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, gaining invaluable insights into the industry.”
Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Herzog says he loves the various roles he’s been exposed to with ESPN+ and the Bengals.
“I do anything from working with cameras, with graphics. I’ve dabbled in the replay systems and audio and being a technical director, which is one of my focuses.
“My main focus is on play-by-play,” he says. “I have fallen in love with using my voice to tell stories, especially being able to tell stories of teams that don’t get as much coverage.
“Along with doing everything else, I’m the sports director of Bearcast Media, the UC student radio station. I’ve given a lot of coverage to women’s volleyball, basketball and soccer — a bunch of teams that are not ‘high-revenue’ sports like football and basketball that get all the attention. All the other programs deserve just as much attention if not more."
I can’t emphasize enough the level of professionalism students bring to the job. They are not just learning on the job; they are actively contributing to the success of Bengals game day. It’s a win-win situation where both the team and the students benefit.
Alex Schweppe Cincinnati Bengals game day event manager
"It's just opened up so many doors, and it makes me confident in finding work outside of college," Herzog says about this experience. "As a junior in college, I’m sitting and calling games on FoxSports1360. I don’t know how many people are listening, but the fact that I’m on a local radio station owned by the largest radio company in the world is incredible." Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Herzog says he’s not exactly sure what path he hopes to focus on after his college days but says what he’s experiencing through the media production program gives him a good head start to pursue his dreams.
“It's just opened up so many doors, and it makes me confident in finding work outside of college. As a junior in college, I’m sitting and calling games on FoxSports1360. I don’t know how many people are listening, but the fact that I’m on a local radio station owned by the largest radio company in the world is incredible.”
“I can’t emphasize enough the level of professionalism students bring to the job,” Schweppe says. “Despite still being in college, the students approach their roles with a sense of responsibility, creativity and enthusiasm that is truly inspiring.
“They are not just learning on the job; they are actively contributing to the success of Bengals game day. It’s a win-win situation where both the team and the students benefit, ultimately leading to exceptional content for fans and invaluable experiences for the next generation of professionals.”
Lead photo of Ethan Herzog/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
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Ethan Herzog is one of several CCM media production students gaining valuable experience working in a variety of roles for ESPN+ productions and operating cameras at Paycor Stadium for the Cincinnati Bengals.