By Brian Bohl
Reflecting on his 35-year career in broadcasting, WNBC sports anchor, Len Berman, shared advice with University students on Wednesday.
Talking to an audience predominantly comprised of communication students, Berman revealed the steps he took to break into the business.
“The best advice I could give is to try to get hands on experience whenever you possibly can,” Berman said. “Work in the campus studios and try to get an internship, even if you start at a small city.”
Berman said there is no single way people enter into the broadcasting field. As an example, he mentioned how his current executive sports producer at NBC started as an intern logging games and doing other minor tasks.
Berman’s speech focused on “Spanning the World,” a notable NBC segment that showcases unique sports moments from around the world. Berman said it was created to break up the sports broadcast with rarely seen footage. The segment became one of Berman’s signature pieces and is currently in its 18th year.
“I didn’t want to show the normal sports bloopers,” said Berman. “I tried to take bloopers to another level.”
Fred Breeze, a freshman video and television major, said the lecture provided an insight into the communications field from a veteran reporter.
“I was happy to attend an event with someone that is held in such high esteem in the broadcasting industry,” Breeze said. “His story made me more eager to want to pursue a career in the broadcast industry. He gave a true picture of what it’s like to get into this industry and how rewarding it can be.”
Berman broke into the journalism field in 1970 with WLWD-TV in Dayton, Ohio. Before exclusively covering sports, Berman also worked as a news reporter. In addition to his sports reporting duties for News Channel 4 he has worked as a news anchor. Berman said he enjoys the freedom that comes with being a sports anchor.
“In a news broadcast, there are more managing editors and writers who have a say in what is a lead story, but in sports, I have a blank canvas,” he said. “In sports, you can be a lot more opinionated and put yourself more into the story.”
Berman is in his twentieth year with NBC 4. He has won six local Emmy awards and six New York “Sportscaster of the Year” awards. He has covered four of the last five Olympic events, along with numerous heavyweight championship fights, two Super Bowls and the 1984 baseball World Series.
The Olympic Games have been one of Berman’s professional highlights, allowing him to cover sports that usually get little publicity. He also expressed his eagerness to cover the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy.
“I’ve had a chance to cover rowing, wrestling, shooting, archery and many other sports,” Berman said. “Once you go to an Olympics, you just can’t wait to go back. I’m really excited to go to Torino.”
Sports anchor, Len Berman, reveals the secrets to breaking into the broadcasting business. (Brian Bohl/The Chronicle)
