All of my life, I have loved sports so when the opportunity came at PRSSA National Conference in October to attend the session “Sports PR: In It to Win It,” I finally was able to hear what it is like to work in the competitive environment of sports public relations.
The session was conducted as a panel headlined by Ketsia Colimon, Director of Public Relations for the Washington Mystics WNBA basketball team and Rebecca Timms, Publicist for the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team. The two discussed the challenges the face in the industry, told stories about different experiences, and also gave the passionate PRSSA members tips about breaking into the sports public relations industry.
After listening to the expert advice of Colimon and Timms, here are a few things I learned about sports public relations as well as getting into the industry:
1. Be ready to work long nights and weekends
The biggest aspect about sports public relations that was made clear by both Colimon and Timms was that the industry is busy, very busy. Both of the experts reiterated how working in the PR department of their respective teams brings great challenges of having free time and putting in a great amount of hours. With sports media never sleeping and games taking place on during the night and on weekends, Timms told the crowd “be willing to miss holidays.”
2. Do not let your fandom get in the way of your work
In their experiences with sports public relations, Colimon and Timms always run into interns who are always too passionate about the team they work for. As a PR professional, it is fine to be supportive of the team you work for. However, it was stressed that fandom will get workers fired and will get in the way of having a successful career in sports public relations. An example of this was recounted by Timms when she told a story about her time interning with the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team where interns she worked with cried as the Flyers lost the Stanley Cup to the Chicago Blackhawks leading to the phrase “there’s no crying in sports PR.”
3. Take every opportunity you can take
While hearing from Colimon and Timms was interesting and inspiring, they also were not shy to indicate the harsh reality of sports public relations: it is a tough industry to break into. With Colimon stating “you have a better chance lading a roster spot on a NBA team than having a career with a sports team,” the two made it clear that one must exert every opportunity and path they have if they wish to have a career in sports PR.
While it may take a challenge to reach the career I desire in sports public relations, it is a challenge I am up to and one I am ready for.
Written by: Eric Kurbyun, Community Relations Chair. Contact Eric at valpoprssa@gmail.com
