New York Mets Host Fordham University Sports Communications Institute Today

July 19, 2011 - PRLog -- The Fordham University Sports Communication Institute rolls into its  12th year in 2011, and today’s trip to Citi Field featuring lectures from prominent New York Mets executives is one of the highlights for undergraduate students seeking careers in the sports media industry. The two-week course began July 11, and concludes Thursday, July 21.

Following a tour of Citi Field and the Mets Hall of Fame, today’s speakers will include: Tina Mannix, Executive Director, Marketing; Jay Horwitz, Vice President, Media Relations; David Newman, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications; Shannon Forde, Director, Media Relations; and Gary Cohen, SNY’s television Mets play-by-play Voice, followed by a chance to sit in on Mets manager Terry Collins’ news conference.  

“The Mets have for many years been such gracious hosts of the Fordham Sports Institute, and we are grateful for their hospitality and willingness to share their wisdom with the eager undergraduates,” said John Cirillo, an adjunct professor at Fordham who serves as co-instructor for the course with Dr. Ron Jacobson.

Cirillo describes the course as a “two week sports media boot camp which gives the undergraduates real-life experience in virtually every aspect of the sports communication industry.” Among the 40 students in the class include several accelerated high school seniors.

Tomorrow’s (July 20) session will include Gregg Klayman, a vice president at MLB.com, and a trip to WCBS TV in New York with sports executive producer Chris Scaglione.  The guest lecturers this summer have included: Chris Carrino, the radio voice of the Nets on WFAN Radio, and Steve Scheer, producer, CBS Sports, on sports broadcasting, both Fordham alumni; Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times columnist Dave Anderson, Clifton Brown, Sporting News, Mike Vaccaro, New York Post, Adam Rubin, ESPNNY.com, and Jim O’Connell of the Associated Press on sports writing; author and Fordham professor John Fortunato on the media and television; and Fordham grads Shaun Clair, Catalyst Public Relations, and Ken Pordon, National Football League, on public relations and marketing.  

A panel of prominent women in the sports media comprised of MSG Network’s Tina Cervasio, New York Times editor Naila-Jean Meyers, and sports writers Johnette Howard, ESPNNY.com, and Rachel Cohen, the Associated Press, will wrap up the course on Thursday.

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Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to approximately 14,700 students in its four undergraduate colleges and its six graduate and professional schools.