An interview with a blogger

When entering the world of sports there are many different avenues to take. If one is not an athlete, there are plenty behind the scene opportunities. I was granted the opportunity to interview one of the many persons who help to bring the news of sports to fans and enthusiasts everywhere; I am speaking of a sports journalist.

John Jervay is the NFL Web Producer at NBC Sports and has been in the industry since 2004. Mr. Jervay graduated from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia with a degree in communications. After obtaining his degree Mr. Jervay retuned to his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to put his degree to work. His first job in the industry was help at the radio station 103.9 FM; which recently changed it name to 100.3, as an intern. After that experience he was fortunate enough to become a production assistant at NBC10 Philadelphia. It was at this job that he would learn another side of news and sports journalism.

John Jervay at work

When I questioned Mr. Jervay about the steps that are needed to complete to get into this particular field, he was adamant about knowing how to write. Learning how to captivate an audience and make them want to read past your first sentence. That advice I truly believe in, anyone can write but it takes dedication and a passion to get readers to follow what you are writing about. To prepare himself for his chosen field Mr. Jervay made sure to keep up to date with the sports happening across the country as well as writing everyday. He is quoted as saying “ I treat it like its exercise and that is the only way my skills will remain healthy.”Today there are no other sports writers that Mr. Jervay aspires to be like, but he does enjoy the writing styles of J.A Adande, Chris Broussard and Tom Curran.

Aside from working as a web producer Mr. Jervay maintains a sports blog entitled After Further Review. It is with this blog that caught my attention of Mr. Jervay. His way of reporting what’s happening in the sports realm really appealed to me. I asked Mr. Jervay why he chooses to cover sports the way that he does and this is what he had to say “Because I feel like I “keep it real” I tell people how it is and not how the media wants you to feel. I try my best to put myself in my readers’ shoes and write what I feel they like to read.” So writing from the viewpoint of a true fan and not treating it as a job has kept Mr. Jervay grounded and allows him to combined both his love of sports and journalism. His passion is basketball but he also enjoys covering football and baseball. As a true home team fan, Mr. Jervay had the privilege to break the news of Allen Iverson’s trade from Philadelphia 76ers to the Denver Nuggets to his station. Another memorable moment was having the chance to interview Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat. Being able to interview him as well as getting to know him on a more personal level is an experience he says he will not soon forget.

My experience and time with Mr. Jervay has given me insight into what it takes to be a writer. My interest in sports is not that of a writer, but that of someone who thinks outside the box and is able to bring that creativity to a franchise. Thinking like a fan and not just business is what drew me to Mr. Jervay’s work. What is taught in this course is the basic outline of the sports industry, from the athletes to the venues they play in. I have learned that holding a degree in a sports related field will not always land you a job. Having the drive and passion, the ability to think not just one step ahead, but even two or three will make a person a great candidate for any job. Following Mr. Jervay’s advice in terms of writing, if you want to become a writer, do not be afraid to let others view your work and accept the criticism. Not everyone will like your style of writing, but if it is something that you love, keep up with it.