Sunday, January 19, 2014

How Caitlin Crawford Got The Chance Of A Lifetime To Work With The Dallas Cowboys

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.

In order to grab the attention of those in charge of choosing interns, Caitlin realized that it was important to show them just what she was capable of, that would set her apart from the rest, so she submitted her best produced articles and they were impressed. She was given a phone interview, and the rest is history.

As a word of advice to others who hope to follow in Crawford's footsteps, she says it's a good idea if one is interested in pursuing this career path, that he or she focus on becoming increasingly comfortable in front of the camera. It's also very important to have strong and convincing written communication skills, as well as being able to produce excellent video work and possessing technical savvy.

Crawford was happy to get the opportunity to put some of her acquired technical knowledge to practical use while on her internship besides having the chance to become more comfortable in front of the camera, she also got to apply her skills with editing software and applications and was thrilled when they relied on her to operate a new playback system which no one else was familiar with except her.

Caitlin knew it was a good idea to be well prepared for her internship, so she went about doing her homework and learning all she could about the team's history, players, staff, and game scores. She was able to enjoy two summers in this internship position when classes were not in session, and they even invited her to help produce other features during her holidays.

Duties as an intern tended to vary with each day's schedule for Caitlin. Her work was during the team's off-season, training camp period, and sometimes she would be responsible for interviewing the players when they were available. Active involvement in the production of televised programs, script and feature development were other tasks which made up her daily work schedule.

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 is very grateful for the experience she had working with the Dallas Cowboys and she one day hopes to have a career in sports broadcast journalism. Having this unique opportunity to put on her resume along with active participation in her school's newscasting department, her chances of obtaining a fulfilling position with a sports organization or news station are quite good.




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