Practice makes perfect

By Michael Hugall

High school students from across Michigan gathered at Joe Louis Arena for the Detroit Red Wings’ media day Feb. 13

Aspiring journalists from Saline to Warren congregated inside the Joe Louis Arena’s Olympia Club to take part in an interactive press conference with notable sports personalities from professional media and the Red Wing organization.

Red Wing’s general manager Ken Holland was among the sports personalities on hand. Holland who has been with the club since the early 1990s, said this event has been part of Red Wings culture since he’s started.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students who are going to school and want to get into journalism,” said Holland. “I think that if you can help them (students) gather knowledge in the pursuit of their passion… I’m glad we can help them out one day a year.”

Holland said he thinks it is important for Red Wings’ personnel to handle the media via league regulations. He said fans want to get as close to the action as possible.

“You can only let them get so close,” said Holland. “We need to get our story out and that’s what the media does.”

It seems as though the message might be getting out faster to the public in the near future as many students said they enjoyed their time at the event and want to pursue a career in journalism.

Nick Warner, 16, an aspiring journalist, said he was excited to be given the opportunity to ask questions to members of a pro hockey team which he loves.

“I follow the Red Wings a lot and it’s been a great experience for me,” said Warner. “I’ve learned that (journalism) is a tough experience. There is a lot of being away from family, but it has its perks as well.”

Warner said his favourite part of the event was watching the Detroit Red Wings practice as he gathered information to ask questions to head coach, Mike Babcock and players Dan Cleary, Stephen Weiss and Luke Glendening.

“If I could be one person that I looked up to today it would be Kevin Allen (USA Today’s main hockey writer),” added Warner.

Also on hand was 18-year-old student Patrick Canavan from Saline, Mich. who said his favourite experience was being able to ask questions to the panel veteran sports journalists which included Allen, as well as Detroit Red Wing play-by-play announcer Ken Kal of 97.1 FM the Ticket.

“It really gave me a lot of tips on how to approach things from now on,” said Canavan.

Canavan sees this to be an event he would recommend to fellow students who are still undecided as to whether a career in journalism is right for them.

“Take a chance and go,” said Canavan. “If you don’t like hockey, go, if you like sports and you like being on camera and you like journalism go and see what happens.”

In an industry that has been said to be dying because of the age of social media, events like media day at Joe Louis Arena serve a practical purpose for students aspiring to be journalists.