Journalism and Media Communication majorProduction Assistant, NBC Sports
Ty Schadt ’20, a journalism and media communication major, is a production assistant in the features and documentaries group with NBC Sports, based out of South Jersey.
In this field, he has found that he can combine his two greatest passions, sports and storytelling. Recently, he helped produce several docu-style shows featuring the athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games.
“I grew up consuming the type content I now get to help create, and I think that exposure early in my life is what led me to this industry,” said Schadt. “The access it provides to athletes and sports in general makes this the ideal job. Before anything else, I’m just a major sports fan. So, the fact that I get to take such a unique peek behind the curtain is the stuff of dreams for me.”
As he creates more content, Schadt has learned that ideas are foundational for a good story.
“I’ve learned that when writing, or really creating anything for that matter, ideas are what matter most,” said the young alum. “Whether it’s a script or an essay or a video — the words or footage mean little if the concept isn’t there. That understanding has been foundational to the way I approach storytelling and changed the way I think about the creative process.”
Schadt credits the confidence he brings to his professional life to the many opportunities he had at Asbury. His professors developed him as a storyteller, challenged him in his personal growth and encouraged him to complete an internship in his senior year. That internship with NFL Films led to a Sports Emmy for his Outstanding Writing — Long Form on the “The Lumberman Quarterback.”
Says Schadt, “I was able to experience so many things in the media world through different classes and extracurricular activities, which provided me the confidence to comfortably enter the professional world and the ability to learn and adapt to different work settings quickly upon graduation.”
When asked what he is learning, he provided some sound advice.
“My friend said ‘don’t confuse comparison with accountability.’ The idea of comparing yourself to others afflicts people in all stages of life, but especially the pool of young alums and current students,” said Schadt. “Because it’s so easy to scroll through LinkedIn or Twitter or even this 30 under 30 campaign and feel like you’re behind everyone else – like he or she has already done x, y, and z, or landed this cool job, or is making that amount of money. But my friend’s advice is such a great grounding principal that turns something you have no control over —what everyone else is doing — into something you can clearly command — doing the best you can with what you have, where you are. It’s a perspective that has helped reframe my mind and allowed me to not only remain ready but feel confident when opportunities present themselves.”