COMM 462/562: Sport Communication is one of my favorite courses I have taken in all of my years in academia. I am genuinely grateful for everything I learned and proud of what I have created. Through this course, I have been reassured just how important and powerful the modern sport communication environment is, and I loved being part of it both as a learner and a content creator.
One of my favorite parts of the class were the PenPal assignments that I completed in collaboration with Shamar Gray. Having the opportunity to exchange thoughts and reflections with someone actively working in the sports communication field added a whole new dimension to my learning. Shamar’s insights helped me see the real-world application of what we were studying, and our conversations reassured me that sports PR is where I see my career heading. This experience showed me just how valuable mentorship and professional dialogue are in building a career in sport communication.
Of course, my favorite topic that we covered would have to be Athlete Advocacy. For my Sport Journal Athlete Activism Submission I looked at tennis star Naomi Osaka, I was really inspired by how she has spoken out about mental health, racial injustice, and other causes she believes in. Osaka’s willingness to prioritize her mental health — even when facing criticism — showed me how athletes today can redefine strength and leadership.
Creating and maintaining this Sport Journal blog was also something I became super passionate about. Building a digital portfolio helped me realize how important it is to have a professional online presence, especially in a field as public-facing as sport communication. I look forward to building upon this website post graduation and incorporating new projects that I work on in my professional career.
I absolutely loved this course. We covered topics including but not limited to sports journalism, crisis communication, strategic communication, NIL, and even sports and gambling. I especially enjoyed learning about NIL deals and how they are creating new opportunities for college athletes. Every topic opened my eyes to how much the sports communication field is growing, and it made me even more excited to be part of it. Thank you Dr. O’Hallarn!