Sunday, January 19, 2014

Caitlin Crawford Landed The Opportunity Of Her Dreams With Confidence And Determination

By Judy Sullivan


University of Oklahoma graduate and Dallas native Caitlin Crawford got the internship opportunity of her dreams when she was chosen for the chance to work with the media department of the Dallas Cowboys. She was a longtime fan of this football team and was excited to be a part of it all and put the skills she had learned in the broadcast and electronic media program, which she graduated from in 2013, to good use.

Caitlin knew that in order to make a strong impression on those responsible for choosing interns it would be necessary to showcase her abilities and prove she was the best person for the job. She selected some of her best work which accomplished exactly what she hoped it would, and she got a phone interview which of course lead to her being offered the position.

She advises that if others are also interested in such an opportunity, they should concentrate on developing several key skill areas. One of these is to become increasingly confident in front of a camera, which is vital to a career in this field. Strong written communication skills and technical knowledge for video production are also very important to have.

Not only did Crawford get the chance to become more at ease in front of the camera, but she was also given plenty of opportunities to practice the technical knowledge she had gained at school. She applied her video editing experience using the software programs and applications she had learned how to use, and felt really honored when they for her assistance in operating a new playback system that no one else had experience running.

Prior to beginning her work with the Dallas Cowboys media department, Caitlin realized the importance of doing some research about many aspects of the team including its scores, staff, and players. She was able to serve as an intern for two summers when school was not in session, and was even asked to collaborate on productions during other times of the year.

Her typical work day as an intern would vary. When interviewing players, she needed to do some careful scheduling since it was the off-season and they may be available at random times. She was involved in the production and coverage of televised programs during the training camp, and had to come up with some quality scripts and ideas for features based on each day's events.

In Crawford's opinion, the Dallas Cowboys and other major sports organizations like it value certain abilities in those who work for them. Those who are punctual and do not watch the clock are appreciated here, as are those who demonstrate dedication, persistence, and the willingness to learn from their mistakes. Having a strong work ethic, being an "ideas person", self-starter and always conducting thorough research is also valued highly.

Caitlin Crawford gained valuable hands-on experience during her time with the Dallas Cowboys, and now has some impressive credentials to add to her resume along with the substantial amount of work she has done with the newscasting department at her school. Now a recent graduate, she intends to pursue a rewarding career in sport broadcast journalism with either a news station or sports organization in the near future.




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