Every young journalist dreams of the opportunity to take their skills out on the big stage, whether that’s taking video for the NFL or writing stories about an MLB team, it always starts somewhere.
Three LHS Publications students got to take their skills to The Dome at America’s Center for a UFL game between the St. Louis Battlehawks and the Birmingham Stallions on May 17. Six high school journalism programs attended the Battlehawks High School Media Day. Students were allowed to take photos on the field during pregame warmups, watch the game from the press box, and finally, watch the postgame press conference where they got to ask questions to the coaches and players from both teams.
Brian Stull, who is the Battlehawks Director of Team Communications and Media Relations, created this program in 2020 where student journalists took photos at practices, but this was the first year they had an official high school media day during a game.
In 2020, we had some different groups of student journalists come out to cover a couple of practices, but with all of the UFL teams now in Texas during the week, we’ve had to get more creative in how we do things,” Stull said.
Kate Stroud (10), Mason Molitor (11), and Will Nolan (11) were the three students that represented LHS Publications at the game. Stroud and Nolan were responsible for taking photos while Molitor was given the task to interview coaches and players. Specifically Battlehawks outside linebacker, Chris Garrett during the “virtual locker room” where Molitor along with other student journalists were able to ask questions and learn about Garrett’s background as a football player.
“Interviewing a professional athlete made me realize that these players are people too,” Molitor said. “They’re very down to earth and interviewing them gives us the ability to see what it’s like to be a professional athlete from their viewpoint, because it is their daily job.”
Stull’s goal in the creation of the “High School Media Day” was to help the student journalists there see what it’s like to cover a professional game, while expanding your connections.
“Be ready to be versatile, there are many aspects of media that are involved in a game,” Stull said. “It’s good to have your goals, but understand that versatility may help open a different door that will eventually lead to where you want to be.”
The only way to grow in the media business is to make connections, and going to events like the Battlehawks High School Media Day will get you connected with the right people.
