The School of Journalism and New Media held the IMC Sports Connect on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Overby Center. Professionals and University of Mississippi alumni gave advice about networking, career building and sports production. Moderators asked questions to the panelists to drive the conversation.
The event was open to all students and was mostly attended by journalism and integrated marketing communications majors.
Dean of the School of Journalism and New Media Andrea Hickerson opened the event, and Senior Associate A.D. for Strategy and Cap Management Matt McLaughlin spoke generally about Ole Miss Athletics. After that, men’s golfer Michael La Sasso introduced Sellers Shy, the coordinating producer for CBS Sports, who spoke about coaching.
Shy was one of four Rebel alumni at the event. The other three were Merrick McCool, a cinematographer for NFL films, David Dillard, owner of Total Production Services LLC and Avery Hilliard, a sports and news reporter with WTVA 9. Keiran Lencheski, a senior journalism major, moderated the panel.
This panel explained the importance of showing up and improving from mistakes and provided insight on how to secure an internship. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and network with the panelists. In an interview with The Daily Mississippian, McCool voiced her approval of the question and answer session.
“The students had some really insightful questions, and they were asking the right questions,” McCool said.
Many of the speakers participated in Ole Miss campus organizations as students. Hilliard partook in Rebel Radio, McCool produced for the athletics department and Hilliard was a station manager for NewsWatch.
“To see what’s happened in all those years (since I graduated) is phenomenal. I’m very happy with where things are (at the University),” Hilliard said in an interview with The Daily Mississippian.
Eleanor Hoover, who works in business development in the NBA, also spent time as a student at Ole Miss, where she contributed to Square Magazine. Although she has followed a different career path, she cites her experience in student media as instrumental in developing crucial skills.
At this event, Hoover was part of a conversation with Jamil Northcutt, the deputy director of Athletes.org, Davis Horton, a sports agent and Chris Traeger, executive director of Boomtown Innovation.
This panel, moderated by Raegan Settle, a junior journalism major and managing editor for The Daily Mississippian, addressed marketing and management within the fields of business and sports.
Members of the panel discussed their journeys in the sports industry. They emphasized the importance of fostering real relationships and navigating the ever-changing landscape of athletics.
The event concluded with a live podcast hosted by Chase Parham, co-owner of MPW Digital. He interviewed Renie Anderson, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of the NFL.
Anderson, one of the highest-ranking women in the NFL, outlined her journey from an intern whose main responsibility was to transport laundry to her current position, where she regularly closes high-profile deals. She also gave insider information on advertising, the Madden video game and Taylor Swift.
“I see a bright future for the journalism students,” McCool said. “There are so many ways to plug yourself in at Ole Miss that prepare you for the real world. The world is the oyster of the Ole Miss journalism student.”
