Brian Fitzsimmons  Media Studies, '08 MSG Varsity Managing Web Editor

COLLEGE MAJOR
During my time at Sacred Heart, I majored in Media Studies, which turned out to be a great fit. For as long as I can remember becoming a sports writer is the only thing I've ever wanted to do, so that helped in my search for a major. I was a bit hesitant to commit to that particular program because its curriculum consisted of strongly focusing on film and production. However, my professors were well-aware of my goals and were extremely helpful by allowing me to concentrate on writing through those classes. So not only was I able to harness my skills and develop a writing voice, but I absorbed a lot of material involving television and radio. In the end, the Media Studies department cultivated my potential and gave me a broad background in similar areas of the industry.

JOB POSITIONS
In my first full-time job, I was an associate editor at PA-SportsTicker - the world's leading real-time online sports information provider - in Cheshire, Connecticut. I covered a wide array of professional sports such as Major League Baseball and the NFL, but my main focus was on the NHL. My work appeared regularly on Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, the "Hockey News" and many newspapers across the country, most notably the New York Daily News. I obtained that position just one week after graduation in May of 2008, and worked at SportsTicker for a year before the company was purchased by one of its main competitors from Chicago. I then moved on to NHL.com as a freelancer, covering the 2009 Draft, Memorial Cup, and the IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Fargo, North Dakota in late April. In addition to those two jobs, I was the senior baseball writer for Pro Fantasy Sports, a web site devoted to online fantasy sports, for over two years. My work for PFS became widely recognized, as I was nominated for two national awards - "Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year" and "Best Fantasy Baseball Article of the Year (Web)" - given by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association in 2008 and 2009.

CURRENT POSITION
I currently work for MSG Varsity, a multi-platform, high-school sports initiative that centers around a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week television network and web site. The new branch of Cablevision, which launched in September of 2009, revolves around four local areas: Long Island; Brooklyn/Bronx; Connecticut/Westchester/Hudson Valley; and New Jersey. At the moment, I serve as the managing web editor of the New Jersey bureau. In that role, I write columns and features, compile news notes, populate the web site with video content and oversee all operations pertaining to my respective section of MSGVarsity.com. In addition, I copy-edit the web site on a daily basis and provide assistance with duties far beyond my job description. MSG Varsity - available to only Optimum subscribers - is a professional network which uses high school activities and sports as its focus. You can tune in to iO Channel 14 to watch hundreds of high school games from around the tri-state area, several talk shows and a SportsCenter-like highlight program entitled "High School SportsDesk", which airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m and 10 p.m. All programming will be filmed in high-definition and the web site will have a complete makeover come September.

TYPICAL DAY
My day revolves around keeping the New Jersey part of MSGVarsity.com constantly updated with videos, highlight clips, columns and news notes. Though most of my time is spent populating the main New Jersey site - as well as over 100 unique sites and counting, dedicated to almost every high school in the Garden State - I also write my own features and columns. That is, by far, my favorite part. Finding ideas to write about and then actually going through the long process of transferring the story from my head onto a blank Microsoft Word document can make for some long - but satisfying - work days.

POSITIVES
Everything, because being a sports reporter is something I've always strived for. When I was a little kid - no older than eight or nine - I went to a New Jersey Nets game and saw the writers on press row near the court. Don't ask me how, but I still remember pointing to them and telling my parents that's what I wanted to do when I grew up. I've always loved to read and write, and as I got older I just never stopped. Since I am young and just a year out of college, I still have a long path ahead of me to get to where I want to be in my career. But I never lose sight of the fact that I am very, very blessed to have the opportunity to do what I have a passion for.

NEGATIVES
Watching sports and putting the events into informative and entertaining words is a fun job to have, but just like any profession, it has its downsides and frustrations. Writing on deadline can be very stressful, and it's not always easy to find a story within a game. And yes, even professional writers run into the feared "writer's block" at times.

LIFESTYLE
In a way, I've created a very perplexing predicament for myself. Even though I am an avid sports enthusiast and turn to them for leisure, sometimes I need a break from my hobby because it often triggers feelings of being at work. In addition, the long, late hours can get in the way of doing other fun things. But, like any job, the downsides don't seem so bad if you enjoy what you do. I always come back to an old column written by the great Michael J. Daly, the current managing editor of the Connecticut Post, called, "'Game of inches' imbued with moments." Paraphrasing the late Joe Flaherty, Daly wrote, "Since we all have to ride this merry-go-round, it's better to have a horse that goes up and down. The life of a newspaper reporter, writer, editor, columnist...whatever you want to call it... is a very good horse."

COLLEGE PREPARATION
I always say that my education came outside the classroom, but even those opportunities were generated from the professors and staff members at Sacred Heart. I was able to not only learn about writing, production, etc. in the classroom, but was given the chance to enhance my education through working as the editor-in-chief at the campus newspaper, the Spectrum. Through my News Writing and Reporting class, I was also able to obtain an internship - and eventually a part-time job - at the Connecticut Post. After school hours, I was a work-study for the Athletic Communications department, so I helped Gene Gumbs, Bill Peterson and Rick Cohen coordinate in-game and post-game media operations at basketball and football games. It's amazing how many opportunities the university provides to students willing to work hard. That said, I wouldn't do anything differently because I really wonder if any other school would cater to my goals. Sacred Heart says 'personal attention leads to personal achievement.' It's an honest assessment, without question.

CAREER ADVICE
When it comes to the journey toward achieving a certain career goal, it's imperative to start as early as you can. Keep in mind the second a freshman walks onto the campus, he or she begins the short period of time to prepare themselves for the job search and real world. Taking advantage of all the school offers and listening to teachers, guidance counselors, staff members and even other students will take you a long way. It's also important to branch out, meet new people and show appreciation to those who have given - or will give - you an opportunity to jumpstart your career. Believe it or not, kindness and persistence are two of the most underrated ingredients to a successful career.

SHU EXPERIENCE
Though they went by too quickly, the fours years I spent at SHU were the best of my life. I was very blessed to have been surrounded by great people who helped me become a better writer and person as well. For that, I’m forever grateful. Enjoying my time and meeting life-long friends easily made Sacred Heart my second home. The memories I still carry with me will allow it to stay that way.