Allie LaForce interview:

Allie LaForce is a freshman at Ohio University, majoring in journalism in the Honors Tutorial College and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. JSchool director Tom Hodson interviewed LaForce during the first week of spring quarter.

Q: With what local media are you involved and in what capacity?

A: Currently, I am involved with WOUB as well as Ohio Sports Zone. For WOUB, I travel to and report on high school basketball games as well as produce the morning sports cast about once a week. For Ohio Sports Zone, I am a reporter as well. I was very active in the fall and will continue to be active in the spring. Unfortunately, I was not able to report during basketball season due to conflict in scheduling.

Q: How would you rate your opportunities to engage in “sports journalism” as a first-year student at Scripps? Explain.

A: On a ten point scale, ten being the best, I would rate my opportunities as a ten. Professors, students, and alumni have done a wonderful job informing me of all of the opportunities that Scripps has to offer. On top of that, I have been embraced by each local media organization to become an active participant. Also, each organization has proven to be extremely flexible making a valiant effort to work around my busy schedule.

Q: How have you been able to juggle your academic commitments and your sports journalism commitments?

A: Juggling academic commitments with sports journalism commitments has not been difficult for me. There are stressful times however, I keep my priorities straight. I keep in mind my class load, important academic dates, as well as my time dedicated to basketball before making a sports journalism commitment. The sports journalism organizations that I have worked with are well aware that academic commitments come first.

Q: Are you happy that you decided to come to the Scripps School? Are you getting what you were promised? If so, how?

A: I am extremely happy that I decided to come to Scripps. When I came on my visit I asked, “Why should I come to Ohio University instead of Northwestern (my second choice)?” I was told that I would be able to gain hands on experience as a freshman that I could not have at Northwestern. He was completely right. I have already gained a great deal of journalism experience and my freshman year is not even finished!

Q: Are you getting adequate academic and career advice?

A: Absolutely. My academic adviser is available at all times. In my journalism classes, the professors have brought in many speakers to share both academic and career advice. I recently transferred to the Honors Tutorial College. My new academic adviser helps me plan out classes as well as discuss steps toward a successful career on a one-on-one basis. He is available at all times. The Honors Tutorial College has a very close-knit environment. Everyone is willing to share adequate academic and career advice at any time.

Caleb Troop interview:

Caleb Troop is in his first year of study in Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. In this interview he tells JSchool director Tom Hodson about experience he is gaining as a freshman.

Q: With what local media are you involved and in what capacity?

A: I work for several different media companies. On the print side, I have been the sports columnist for The Athens NEWS since I arrived on campus in late August. I stay busy on the radio at WATH-AM and WXTQ-FM in Athens. I co-host a nightly sports talk call-in show weeknights from 6-7 on WATH called “The SportsFan”. Additionally, as the flagship station of Ohio University sports, we have several pre-game shows for every single football game and many of the home basketball games. Our stations also cover local high school sports, so I did countless play-by-play broadcasts of football and basketball in the fall and winter, respectively. On the Ohio Bobcat Sports Network, I did the play-by-play for one OU women’s basketball contest on top of my regular pre-game report duties, and I will contribute as a play-by-play broadcaster for the OU men’s baseball team this spring. Lastly, I write frequently on my “Bobcat Blog” hosted on my website, www.TroopSports.com.

Q: How would you rate your opportunities to engage in “sports journalism” as a first-year student at Scripps? Explain.

A: My first year opportunities have been fantastic at Ohio University and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. I came to college with a strong amount of experience, in high school, so I felt that the sky was the limit if I worked hard. That said, not once did I think I would be involved to the extent that I am currently. While I have been fortunate with the connections I have made, without a doubt the school and the city that surrounds it allows for boundless opportunities.

Q: How have you been able to juggle your academic commitments and your sports journalism commitments?

A: One’s ability to juggle a course load and extracurricular events is always vital. In large part due to my work ethic and ability to stay organized, I have been able to keep up with my hectic schedule. For me, experience in the field of sports journalism is as important if not more important that classes, so I have not found myself saying ‘No’ to any of the opportunities that have come my way. However, when push comes to shove, I have made sure to keep my academics a priority, and that has showed with my grades through the first two quarters.

Q: Indicate how your sports journalism experience during your first-year will help you with future internships.

A: My experience has already helped my garner a very impressive internship at one of the largest radio stations in the nation. I will be interning at KMOX-AM in St. Louis this summer. The station has been the starting spot for many of the prominent sports casters over the last several decades, including Bob Costas, Joe Buck, and many more.

Q: Are you happy that you decided to come to the Scripps School? Are you getting what you were promised? If so, how?

A: I am extremely pleased I chose to come to the Scripps School over other schools such as Missouri, Syracuse and Northwestern to name a few. My decision was based on one word: experience. I could have waited a year or two to be on air or in a newspaper at other journalism programs, but I was told that I would have the ability to step in and make a difference right away at Ohio. Sure enough, my first quarter I took two journalism core classes and was busy on the radio five or six nights a week.

Q: Are you getting adequate academic and career advice? Explain….

Q: Yes, I am getting an overwhelming amount of advice at Ohio University. The moment I established a relationship with Director Tom Hodson late this summer I knew my professors and bosses would quickly become friends, and they have. Whether it is help in a class or help with my growth as a broadcaster and writer, Hodson and others have been ubiquitous. But maybe the most important and surprising guidance I have received has been away from the books or the microphone. The people at Ohio University care about my augmentation in life, too.

Brian Boesch interview:

Brian entered Ohio University in the Fall of 2007. He's in the Honors Tutorial College with a journalism major. Prof. Tom Hodson, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, interviewed Brian prior to a basketball game at Ohio University.

Q: With what local media are you involved and in what capacity?

A: In Athens, I am involved with WOUB, the tv/radio station right on campus. Here, I have done morning sports updates and reported at some local high school games, including a regional basketball game and a state semifinal volleyball game. In the winter, I worked with Tom Hodson as the color commentator/statistician for the Ohio women’s basketball team. I worked at all of the home games, and I made three road trips at the end of the season to Akron, Kent State, and Miami.

I also have begun working for WATH, another radio station just a few minutes off of campus. Here, I have filled in for Jimmy Smith as the co-host of The SportsFan, a sports talk show from 6-7 every weeknight. When I was on the show, I worked with Caleb Troop, the other regular co-host. Also, I am working for WATH as a play-by-play commentator for its broadcasts of the Ohio baseball team’s conference games. I have already traveled to Central Michigan, and I will also be heading to Toledo and Akron before the season is over.

In addition to these two stations, I will be contributing regularly to a new sports blogging Web site. The university has approved the website, and we will begin writing on it sometime during spring quarter. My role will be to blog about a few of Ohio’s sports teams, such as the women’s basketball team and the baseball team.

Finally, over the summer, I will be the media relations director of the Southern Ohio Copperheads. My role will be to manage a staff of writers and web designers and to do the play-by-play broadcasts of all of their road games.

Q: How would you rate your opportunities to engage in “sports journalism” as a first-year student at Scripps? Explain.

A: Before coming to Ohio University and to Scripps, I had very little journalism experience. I had been the sports editor of my school newspaper and had covered my high school’s football team, but these jobs did not offer much preparation. Despite my lack of experience, I jumped right in at WOUB. By the end of fall quarter, I was covering a few games around the Athens area. Once winter quarter began, I was cleared for morning radio, and I was continuing to report some games.

As for WATH, I have been working for them since the middle of winter quarter. In that short time, I have already done many broadcasts. I also received my internship with the Copperheads from the general manager of the organization and of WATH, Dave Palmer.

Thus, I would say that my opportunities as a first-year student have exceeded my expectations. I am truly fortunate to have had so many chances so early in my journalism career.

Q: How have you been able to juggle your academic commitments and your sports journalism commitments?

A: As a freshman here at Ohio University, I have had many responsibilities, whether it is classwork, journalism commitments, or my social life. However, if you are a responsible, hard-working person, you can handle the large workload. The key for me is to stay organized. It does not matter how you accomplish this, as long as you do it. Organization is critical as a journalist and as a student. The Scripps school will push you, but as long as you have some push as well, you can handle it.

Q: Indicate how your sports journalism experience during your first-year will help you with future internships.

A: My experience with WOUB and WATH already helped me get an internship with the Copperheads for this summer, so my experience is already helping me. As I move forward in my collegiate career, my experiences should help me get even better internships down the road.

Q: Are you happy that you decided to come to the Scripps School? Are you getting what you were promised? If so, how?

A: I am thrilled with my decision to come to the Scripps School. I have already completed five journalism classes in just two quarters of time here in Athens, and I have engulfed myself in a few media outlets around the area. This school promised me journalism classes as a freshman and opportunities to put my knowledge to work outside of the classroom, and Scripps has definitely delivered. I can confidently say that this school is the place for me.

Q: Are you getting adequate academic and career advice?

A: I have gotten advice from many people, including Dave Palmer (GM of the Copperheads and WATH/WXTQ) and Tom Hodson (the Director of the Scripps School). After all of the success they have had, I know that I am getting great advice every time I ask them a question. My extensive interaction with them, along with all of my journalism teachers, has helped me as I try to find a role within the sports community of Athens. Working with Dave Palmer on a weekly basis and having two classes with Tom Hodson, along with the broadcasts we have done together, have been extremely beneficial to me.

EDITIOR'S NOTE: This interview is part of a series on the freshman experience in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University.