Sports Media Pros from MLB.com, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, More to Convene at LSU Sports Summit Covering Olympics, NIL, Sports Media Trends, Research

October 17, 2024

BATON ROUGE—The LSU Manship School of Mass Communication will bring together some of the nation's leading sports media professionals, NIL experts and preeminent researchers for an interactive two-day Sports Summit on Oct. 22-23, 2024. Featured panelists include Caroline Fenton, Yahoo Sports host; Kennedi Landry, MLB.com Texas Rangers beat writer; Trace Young, LSU Basketball player; and Tyler Batiste, The Athletic NBA managing editor.

Interactive panel discussions will focus on the latest sports trends, college athletics, NIL, Olympic impact and connectivity, and a comprehensive sports industry outlook. This showcase of sport expertise and LSU Manship School alumni will enhance the goal of bridging the evolution of sports communication with the next generation of industry leaders.

Below is the itinerary for the Manship School’s 2024 Sports Summit:

Tuesday, Oct. 22 | Beyond the Rings: Inside the 2024 Summer Olympics

Join us as we dive into the marketing strategies and innovations that emerged during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. Hear from students and reporters about their on-the-ground experiences, gain academic perspectives and be inspired by the journey of an Olympic medalist.

4 – 4:45 p.m. | Olympics Project Student Panel

  • Aniya Hall, Social Media Team, Olympics Project
  • Olivia Johnson, Director of Blogs and Vlogs, Olympics Project
  • Teyanah Owens, Documentary and Multimedia Member, Olympics Project
  • Cade Williams, Director of Olympics Project Podcast

5 – 6:30 p.m. | Olympics Keynote Panel

  • Kenon Brown, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Communication & Information Research and Professor of Public Relations, University of Alabama
  • Roxane Coche, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Interim Chair of Media Production, Management and Technology, University of Florida
  • Cynthia Potter, American Former Olympic Diver
  • Scott Rabalais, Columnist and Sportswriter, The Advocate

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. | Sports Media Practitioners Panels

From the ever-changing landscape and realignment of college athletics to the latest sports media trends, these LSU Manship alumni and sports media practitioners will discuss how the industry is rapidly adapting and how current students can make their mark. Panelists, all LSU Manship School alumni, are as follows:

  • Madeline Adams, WVUE-TV Sports Anchor/Reporter
  • Abby Alonzo, Valley Vision Host
  • Tyler Batiste, The Athletic NBA Managing Editor
  • Chris Branch, The Athletic Pulse Writer
  • Caroline Fenton, Yahoo Sports Host
  • Sharief Ishaq, WDSU-TV Sports Anchor/Reporter
  • Kennedi Landry, MLB.com Texas Rangers Beat Writer
  • Alexis Williams, Senior Associate Athletic Director/External Relations, University of Colorado 

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. | NIL Experts Panel

Pay for Play? With NIL deals soaring across the country, these Name, Image and Likeness experts will present the unique opportunities and challenges both student-athletes and universities face in what has been perceived as the “Wild West” of recruitment and retention. Panelists are as follows:

  • David Fleshman, Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP; Former LSU Basketball Player
  • Taylor Jacobs, LSU Associate AD of NIL & Strategic Initiatives
  • Thomas Karam, Ph.D., Distinguished Instructor, LSU Department of Marketing & Flores MBA Program
  • Olivia Nuss, Head of Business & Legal Affairs, Student Athlete NIL
  • Trace Young, LSU Basketball Player and Content Creator

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m. | Sports Communication Scholars

From LSU to Alabama to Florida, these SEC scholars will detail how the sports comm industry continues to spur academic research and data widely used across college athletics. What trends are coming back, and what can we learn about the modern star athlete's impact and skyrocketing fan engagement? Panelists are as follows:

  • Kenon Brown, Ph.D., University of Alabama Director of the Institute for Communication and Information Research
  • Roxane Coche, Ph.D., University of Florida Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Media Production, Management & Technology
  • Joshua Jackson, Ph.D., LSU Manship School Assistant Professor of Sports Communication          

Event details are as follows:

Reserve your spot: Admission is free, but a reservation via Eventbrite by Oct. 22 at 8 a.m. CT is required.

For more information, contact acharbonnet1@lsu.edu.

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LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: Master of Mass Communication, Ph.D. in Media and Public Affairs, Certificate of Strategic Communication and a dual MMC/Law degree. Like us on Facebook @ManshipSchool, or follow us on X @ManshipSchool, Instagram @ManshipSchool and LinkedIn LSU Manship School of Mass Communication.

 

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