Newhouse alumni share career advice at sports media panel

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Students filled the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, to hear from three Newhouse alumni who have built successful careers in sport media.

From left to right: Professor Olivia Stomski, Jenna Elique, Priyanka York and Robert Ford answer questions from students during the sports media panel in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School on Nov. 3, 2025. Photo Credit: Jacob Beadles

The event, co-sponsored by the Newhouse Office of Community, Culture and Engagement, the Sports Media Center and the Office of Student Success, offered students insight into the skills, adaptability and mindset needed to thrive in the fast-paced sports media industry.

The panel, moderated by Professor Olivia Stomski, featured Robert Ford, radio voice of the Houston Astros; Jenna Elique, sports multimedia journalist with Spectrum News 1 North Carolina; and Priyanka York, vice president of operations at Overtime Elite. Panelists discussed mentorship, persistence and strategies for building a career in a competitive field, including how to position oneself for success after graduation.

“There can be a tendency– not just when you’re 18, but when you’re in your 20s too– to think that where you are, that’s where you’re always going to be, or that nothing can change, but you still have a lot of time,” Ford said. “Your career is not defined by what you do as a freshman or sophomore.”

Elique echoed the importance of persistence.

“Keep going. It’s going to be hard… My first time on TV was a trainwreck,” she said. “This place makes you obsessed with what you do… You have to stick with it, because a lot of people won’t.”

Students attend the sports media panel in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School on Nov. 3, 2025. Photo Credit: Jacob Beadles

Mentorship and community also emerged as key themes. Elique credited Stomski for her guidance and support. “Even when I doubted myself, she didn’t allow me to doubt myself,” she said.

Ford pointed to the Newhouse alumni network, often called the “Newhouse Mafia,” as a valuable resource.

“So many people want to help and grow this particular subset of people… That [community] is something to take advantage of,” he said.

During the audience Q&A, students asked about connecting with new communities as a transplant reporter. Elique described her first assignment in Midland, Texas, as a small-market challenge. She encouraged students to stick with their hobbies and immerse themselves in the community, which helps build relationships and uncover story ideas. She reminded them to keep an open mind.

York said standing out in digital media requires creativity and strategic engagement. She encouraged students to develop out-of-the-box ideas that connect with audiences authentically, noting that viral moments are fleeting but can amplify a story.

Robert Ford’s 2022 Astros World Series ring, which students were able to handle during the sports media panel at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School on Nov. 3, 2025. Photo Credit: Jacob Beadles

The panel concluded with students networking with the panelists and continuing the conversation about maximizing their time at Newhouse and preparing for success in the evolving world of sports media.