Students studying sportscasting at Full Sail got the unique opportunity to apply their skills in interviewing, event coverage, and more at the Orlando Magic’s recent Media Day. Instructor Michael Flasch – who covered the NBA during his time as a Field Producer with ESPN – helped get students inside access to the event held at the NBA team’s brand-new Orlando practice facility.

“Media Day is something an NBA team will do prior to the start of their training camp at the very beginning of the season. It's the opportunity to interview everyone at the same time. All the players are there, and other things are going on, such as photo shoots for the whole season. They had one booth there where they had to put on Christmas hats,” shares Michael “They put every player in front of the media and you get to ask questions and get whatever you need as a jump start to the season.”

Four top-performing students were selected to attend and shadow media professionals while putting their studies to the test. The students interviewed players, recorded video segments, and applied their knowledge and professionalism throughout the day. Along with gaining valuable portfolio and reel additions, students got the opportunity to network with pro players and active sports-media industry professionals while still early in their career paths.

“At a particular media event like that, there's so much going on. There's a producer, there's a reporter, there's a videographer, and they're all there at the same time. So the students got exposure to everything that happens practically on a pretty high level,” Michael says.

Michael, who still freelances for ESPN alongside his role at Full Sail, was thrilled to share such a unique experience with his students, saying, “That's the reward. We're just trying to get these students some real experience. Classroom experience is fine. We can do mock reports and mock interviews, but, ‘Hey, look, here's the Orlando Magic. Ready, set, go.’ That’s very rewarding.”