Kevin Blackistone visits UMass Campus

Photo by Christopher Noreika

Sports journalism and sports management students on the UMass Amherst campus had the honor and privilege of meeting one of the most prominent voices in sports yesterday, Kevin Blackistone. Blackistone teaches at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and his accolades in sports journalism are impressive to say the least. But what he is best known for are his frequent appearances in ESPN's debate show Around the Horn.

Blackistone would later be a panel member in a discussion called Amateur Hour: the Commercialization of College Athletics that night, but took some time during the day to field the questions of students who hope to work in his field following their student lives.

When asked about his television appearances, it was clear Blackistone preferred long form writing to the quick way he must deliver his thoughts and opinions on ATH. With a column he can craft his words and carefully express his feelings on hot topics. On TV there is "no way (he) can explain it all on a sound bite," Blackistone says. But he still enjoys the experience. "That's my escape," Blackistone said. "It's entertainment. It's fun."

Topics of discussion ranged all over the sports journalism map, including one subject that is always prominent in such discussions, how to ask the tough questions. One thing Blackistone wanted students to remember is that, especially in professional sports, the athlete is expecting those questions to be asked. The important thing is to know how to ask them, and to be respectful when doing so. "The great thing about professional athletes is that most of them are professional," Blackistone said.

Photo by Christopher Noreika

Blackistone got his start in journalism at the news desk, not the sports desk, and was asked if that was something he would suggest for aspiring journalists even if their main goal is to end up in sports. Blackistone encouraged students to "just study journalism." In Blackistone's opinion, it is more likely that a sports writer gets tapped on the shoulder by an editor and told to do a news story, than it is for a news writer to be sent to cover a sports story. Therefore, sports journalists should always be prepared to make the crossover if needed.

Other interesting facts about Blackistone students got insight on were his preferred "dream jobs" that he would like if he took an alternate career path, which were a jazz musician and a documentary filmmaker. He also admitted to being a "Watergate baby," listing that story, like many successful journalists, as his inspiration to get into the trade. Blackistone also expressed the importance of his experiences abroad. Not as a journalist, but just "as a citizen of the world."

Some of his closing advice to the group of students yesterday was that "the most important thing you can do is get experience," and that it doesn't matter where or how. "Write for anybody who will let you write," Blackistone said.

And when looking for a job in the future, "Don't take no for an answer."