Jennifer Ready is a 22-year old graduate student at Syracuse
University. She grew up in Manheim Township, Pennsylvania, which did not offer
a lot of sports and entertainment. Family vacations consisted of summer trips to
South Carolina, where Ready fell in love with the area. She later would attend
Clemson University as a sports marketing major. “I think for a long time I
didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” she said. When we met, Ready had just finished
working out at the gym, dawning a Clemson sweater, friendly smile, and hair
loosely pulled to the side. Sports, health and nutrition are important elements
of her daily routine. After graduating and two marketing internships, Ready came
to the realization that it was not the profession for her. She told herself, “You know what? Go for what you’ve always dreamed of doing.” She would then
apply to the BDJ program at the S.I. Newhouse School
of Public Communications in Syracuse, New York.
Now her goals
are set on being a news anchor and sideline reporter in the sports
industry. When Ready was asked who
she looks up to as a role model in broadcasting, she took a moment to ponder. “I
would say Katie Couric, because I’ve seen her go from news anchor, to talk show
host. She’s been versatile…” The most surprising thing about Ready? Her
hometown is more popularly known as Amish country, where television shows “Breaking Amish and Amish Mafia are shot.” Ready may be from a small town, but has the passion to make her dreams a reality.
Interview
Michael Silver: I understand you’re from Pennsylvania and
did your undergrad at Clemson. What was your major there?
Jennifer Ready: Sports Marketing.
MS: Everyone knows the prestige of Newhouse, but
I’m curious what other schools did you apply to?
JR: I applied to Northwestern and UGA.
MS: Why the BDJ program itself?
JR: I think for
a long time I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Growing up I knew I
wanted to do communications, but then when I went to apply for undergrad I
didn’t really have the confidence that I could do it. Be in front of a camera,
do something so exciting and different. So I went for the traditional business
like my Dad was and was kind of scared. My senior year after, after doing two
internships in marketing I despised it, I hated it and said ‘You know what, go
for what you’ve always dreamed of doing.’
MS: Did you play any sports yourself in high
school or college?
JR: I did, I played field hockey, basketball and a little
bit of lacrosse.
MS: What are your
favorite sports, just as a fan to watch?
JR: Probably as a fan, lacrosse or football.
MS: On the opposite
end, what is your least favorite sport?
JR: My least favorite sport is probably golf. I don’t know a
lot about it and I don’t like standing and watching slow motion things like
that.
MS: Have you met
anyone in the industry that you want to get into?
JR: I know someone who worked for ESPN, but he does mostly
NASCAR.
MS: Who do you look up
to, or someone you want to model yourself after?
JR: That’s a tough one…in general I would say Katie Couric,
because I’ve seen her go from news anchor, to talk show host. She’s been
versatile and I think she did a very good job when she was at the Today show
and really made the Today show what it is.
MS: What is your end
goal, your future aspirations? What do you see yourself doing in the famous
5-10 years from now?
JR: I would ultimately like to be a news anchor somewhere,
but my dream would be a sideline reporter or reporting sports in any way.
Probably would prefer to start in sports over news.
MS: Is there any one
sport, if you had to pick that you would want to be on the sidelines for?
JR: Football or lacrosse.
MS: College or pro?
JR: Probably college.
MS: To end this with
something fun. Tell me something unique or strange. Something that no one knows
about or wouldn’t expect to hear about you.
JR: Oh gosh. I don’t like that question. Um (awkward pause).
I’m from Amish country. But I’m not Amish! We have normal roads. Everyone asks
if I go to school on a dirt road.
MS: Do people assume
you live the Amish lifestyle?
JR: When I went to college, yes….’Breaking Amish’ and ‘Amish
Mafia’ are shot in my hometown, but they’re not real.
MS: Did you pick up
any accent when you went to Clemson?
JR: Everyone says I came back saying ‘Y’all,’ which I’m very
guilty of.
MS: Thank you for the
time, I appreciate it.
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