Rider University to Offer New Sports Media Major

Lawrenceville, NJ -- Rider University will offer a new Bachelor of Arts in Sports Media through its College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Sciences, the university announced on Wednesday. It will be offered for the first time this fall.

The degree will prepare students to become sports media professionals by building their skills in multimedia production, writing, storytelling, social media and sports communications.

“Rider’s new sports media degree is a smart choice for students who desire careers that combine strong communication skills with a passion for sports,” Program Director and Associate Professor of Journalism, A.J. Moore, said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment increases in communications, sports, and related fields, with New York and New Jersey ranking among the top states for employment in sports media fields, according to the university.

Moore said, Rider’s program is designed to give students the diverse skills that sports media employers seek. While building a foundation in journalism, public relations and marketing, students will have the opportunity to specialize in sports-related communications for a variety of audiences, he said.

“Whether students aspire to work in the sports industry as journalists, on-air broadcasters, public relations strategists, bloggers or producers, the program’s innovative interdisciplinary approach will give them the competitive edge and strong foundation they’ll need to reach their goals,” Moore said.

Students will develop advanced sports reporting, writing, television and field production skills, and apply them to produce effective and interesting sports communications.

They will also master the creation of digital sports content for a wide variety of audiences and media.

In addition, students will gain hands on experience through internships, leadership and volunteer opportunities, and they will have opportunities to network with industry professionals.

“Students will be able to take advantage of Rider’s strategic location, near New York City and Philadelphia – two of largest media and sports team markets in the United States,” Moore said. “Our communication majors have easy access to internships and other professional development opportunities, and have a history of interning with major professional sports franchises, minor league organizations and Division 1 programs.”

Rider communication majors have interned with ESPN, the New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Comcast SportsNet, WFAN, Trenton Thunder and the Rider Broncs.

Recent graduates are working as multimedia producers with Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. Other recent graduates are working at CBS Sports and NBC Sports.

In addition to internships, Moore said students in the new program will also be able to gain valuable experience through the University’s fleet of award-winning media, including The Rider News, which consistently wins state and regional journalism prizes, The Rider University Network (R.U.N.) TV station, which has won numerous awards for audio management, sports play-by-plays, and video documentaries, and The Bronc 107.7, named the 15th best college radio station in the nation in 2015 and recently the Best College Radio Station by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.

To earn a major in Sports Media, students must complete 24 credits of core Communication courses, such as Fundamentals of Video Production and Communication Ethics, as well as 24 credits of major courses. A sampling of major courses includes Sports Multimedia Reporting, Sports Marketing, Sports Television & Field Production, Sports Media Relations and Live Sports Reporting.

To learn more about the program or to apply for admission to Rider University, visit www.rider.edu or contact the Office of Admissions at 800-257-9026.