Athletic Media Relations

Philosophy

The primary purpose of the Bemidji State University Office of Athletic Media Relations is to serve as a liaison between local, state and national media and the administration, coaches and student athletes in Bemidji State's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Goal

To facilitate the requests of Bemidji State officials and student-athletes as well as print and electronic media to ensure the best possible coverage of Beaver athletics. Athletic Media Relations provides a wide range of services, such as Web sites, media guides and regular news releases, to meet the ever-growing needs of media covering collegiate sports, as well as to assist other information-seeking individuals and organizations. In addition, the department serves as the chief public relations arm of Bemidji State athletics, keeping image a top priority in its dealings with media, fans and others wishing to learn more about the department and the University.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Producing information and promotional publications (media guides, schedule cards, posters)
• Writing and distributing news releases and compiling and distributing statistical information
• Keeping the department's Web site updated with timely, up-to-date information
• Coordinating gameday operations
• Archiving historical and statistical information for current and former student athletes and coaches
• Arranging and overseeing media interviews
• Arranging and monitoring press conferences
• Handling media credential requests for games

Services Provided

Publications. All publications, posters and schedule cards are produced in a timely, high-quality manner and distributed to the media and in the community and surrounding area. Media guides are provided for six varsity sports. The size of the guide and number of guides printed varies by sport and is determined by history, records, tradition, etc., and media demand for information regarding that particular sport. Posters are also produced for football/volleyball, basketball and hockey. Schedule cards are produced for each of Bemidji State's 17 sports.

Special events. Administration and media coordination for numerous special events. To plan and implement media and other services for national and conference-level events hosted by Bemidji State; assist in honoring past Bemidji State teams and individuals; coordinate senior days; provide official statistics crews and/or scorers and other staff for national and conference tournament games and events held at Bemidji State venues.

Travel. To provide adequate media relations services for varsity teams on the road. A sports information representative will travel on a need-only basis; otherwise, arrangements will be made with the host school to receive results for reporting to local, state and national media.

Reporting results. To report results of all varsity sporting events to local, state and national media, as appropriate, to the BSU athletic media relations Web site, and to the respective conference of a particular sport. A member of the athletic media relations staff is assigned to each sport to ensure comprehensive coverage of the Department of Athletics.

Continuing Goals

• To provide media services for 17 varsity intercollegiate sports.
• To publicize and promote student athletes, coaches and key athletic department personnel.
• To update the athletic media relations Web site on a timely basis.
• To produce top-quality, award-winning media guides.
• To instruct and develop interns and student assistants who wish to pursue a career in athletic media relations.