NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference will host its inaugural Broadcast Boot Camp on Jan. 29 at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park Student Center in Chicago, Ill. The career development opportunity will feature professionals from across the broadcast industry, including executives, directors, producers and talent from FOX Sports, the BIG EAST Digital Network, Rush Media, Association for Women in Sports Media, Big Ten Network, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts and explore the diverse careers available within the broadcasting field.
The free event is slated from 3-6 p.m. (CT), with the day capped by a nationally televised women’s basketball game between DePaul and Marquette at McGrath-Phillips Arena on FS1 at 8 p.m. The day will kick off with an opening panel which includes Mariel Brady, Manager of Sports Programming at CBS, Big Ten Network football analyst Howard Griffith, FOX Sports producer Carol Langley, and Vice President of Marketing for BTN Erin Harvego. Emmy award winning producer and current BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner for Broadcasting Rick Gentile will moderate the panel.
Attendees will then have the opportunity to select two of the three available breakout sessions:
Practice Makes Perfect, a four-person panel focused on preparation for broadcasts which includes BTN analyst Elizabeth Tortorello-Nelson, BEDN analyst Kim Adams, former student-athlete and current analyst Kelly Burke, and FOX Sports producer Vanessa Lambert;
Truck Action, a four-person panel aimed at what goes on inside the production truck and other behind-the-scene elements, includes Rush Media Owner/President Tim Eichorst, 27-time Final Four producer for CBS Bob Dekas, FOX Sports Detroit Digital Host Rachel Elliot Carnwath and BTN Coordinating Producer for Remote Events Sue Maryott; and
Landing The Gig, which will deal with securing employment and industry secrets to breaking into the business, featuring Kim Beauvais, Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Business Operations for BTN, freelance broadcaster Michelle McMahon and BIG EAST Director of Compliance and Membership Services Michael Sainte.
The interactive final session will feature the FS1 talent team for the Marquette-DePaul tilt, Lisa Byington and LaChina Robinson, along with BEDN’s Matt Schumacker. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the FOX Sports mainstays, as well compete for a spot on a BIG EAST Digital Network production. Additionally, complimentary professional headshots will be offered and a pregame networking reception will take place immediately following the event from 6-7 p.m. Attendees will also be provided a free game ticket to the evening’s women’s basketball game.
Interested attendees must register in advance. Registration will remain open until Monday, Jan. 22. For more information on BIG EAST Broadcast Boot Camp as well as the link to register, click
HERE.