Connor Emery is one of five students working toward a certificate in sports & adventure media from the School of Communication who attended media week for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Not only did he get to meet big-name athletes and coaches, but he also had the opportunity to experience firsthand what it is to be a sports journalist, something he hopes to do when he graduates.
How did it feel to be covering the media week of an event of this magnitude?
It was amazing! It’s always been a dream to interview big time athletes and coaches. There were a lot of big names like Saquon Berkley, Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, etc. It felt like I was on top of the world even though I’m an NAU student.
Tell us a little bit about the activities you took part in during the media week.
Some of the activities included going to press conferences and team media availability. The big one was opening night. There was so much media, and you had to stand shoulder to shoulder on Monday night. I have never felt more claustrophobic in my life, but it was worth it. Also, it took some patience because you had to basically shout your question and be quick when someone was done answering the previous question.
What did you learn from this experience?
One thing I learned is to work as a team. I had amazing colleagues and an amazing teacher, Rory Faust, and we all helped each other. It wasn’t just one person doing all the heavy load but rather everyone contributed with their ideas and workload. Because of that, we were able to come out with amazing shows and packages.
What was your favorite part?
My favorite part was definitely exploring New Orleans. We didn’t get to do a whole lot of exploring but being in Jackson Square and the French Quarter was so cool. We got to film there for one of our shows and it was just breathtaking; I want to go back sooner rather than later.
What was your least favorite part?
My least favorite part was minimal sleep. We all worked late nights and only got about 4-6 hours of sleep every night, but we had to sacrifice that in order to make quality content.
What would you like your fellow communication students to know about your experience?
Something everyone should know is that this was a business trip. Yeah, we got to interview famous people and travel, but it wasn’t just for fun. We are media and have to be professional wherever we go. It’s not just for the Super Bowl, it’s any event a journalist goes to, big or small.
What are your plans for when you graduate?
Currently, I am a junior, but my plan when I graduate is to find a job in sports broadcasting, hopefully play-by-play broadcasting. The dream is to work for ESPN, but I gotta work my way up there.
Anything else you would like to add?
I couldn’t have asked for a better team to go with. Everyone was helpful, and a lot of fun to be around. Definitely one of my favorite college experiences so far.
Mariana Laas | NAU Communications
(928) 523-5050 | mariana.laas@nau.edu