Sports Broadcasters Visit Class in Sports Communication and Digital Media

On February 8, 2024, students in adjunct instructor Caleb Mezzy’s COM 370 Sports Communication and Digital Media class welcomed guest speakers Tom McCarthy ‘90, announcer for the Phillies, and son Pat McCarthy ‘17, host of the pre-and post-game show for the NY Mets, to share their experiences in sports broadcasting with the students. 

Tom and Pat, both graduates of the Communication Studies department, were eager to discuss their career paths that led them to work in the big leagues with these well-known sports organizations.

After a candid discussion of the highs and lows of working in a high-pressure sports environment, students asked questions about access to the field and career possibilities—both on-air and behind the scenes in public relations and social media.

The McCarthys advised the students to persevere and not be disappointed at a few rejections; they both had many before they achieved their current positions. Students learned a lot from their first-hand accounts.

Junior COM major Alyssa Hemsey ‘25 was impressed by their encouraging response, “Just keep trying. Just because Company A doesn’t prefer you, Company G might. So, don’t be discouraged.”

Another COM student, Isabella Percontino ’25, was equally impacted by their visit and found that it was “an insightful and interesting presentation not only about the sports industry, but also about the power of hard work.”

Read additional coverage of this event on our School of Arts and Communication site.  Click on this link to access the full story!

We are grateful to Professor Mezzy and our wonderful alumni, Tom and Pat McCarthy, for paying it forward and coming back to speak with our current students.

Photo credits:  Kayla (Red) Oliveira ‘24