South Carolina Softball Partners With Journalism School To Bring Audio Broadcasts

COLUMBIA, S.C. —- South Carolina softball, in partnership with the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications, will provide student-run broadcasts for up to 27 home games this season. With help from Director of Content Brad Muller, juniors Trey  Martin, Zach McKinstry and Dillon Clark will team up to bring the audio broadcasts for Gamecock fans throughout the 2020 home schedule.
 
The schedule for the student-run broadcasts, as well as the entire Gamecock softball media schedule, is planned to be released by the end of this week.
 
“This is a great opportunity for our aspiring sports broadcasting students at South Carolina,” Muller said. “In working with the sports announcing class during the fall, I was impressed with the talent, professionalism and work ethic I saw from the students who want to get into play-by-play as a career. Having worked in the field for nearly three decades, I know how competitive this business is and how important these opportunities can be. These students have potential for a bright future in broadcasting, and I’m very excited that we’ve been able to create this partnership with South Carolina Athletics and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.”
 
The partnership with the School of Journalism and Mass Communications runs hand-in-hand with the school’s commitment to providing real-world opportunities to South Carolina students. All three students involved took part in Muller and instructor Greg Brannon’s sports announcing class this past fall semester where students were given the opportunity to call fall games and learn from industry professionals.
 
“This partnership between softball and our Sports Announcing students is just the next step in our Sports Media efforts here at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC),” Sports Media Lead Kevin Hull said. “We are always talking about making sure our students are getting these real-world experiences and I can’t think of anything better than having our sports media students broadcast softball games for the Gamecocks. Instructors Greg Brannon and Brad Muller have done a great job preparing students in class, so I know they’ll be ready to go for the first game.”
 
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. It bridges practice and research, preparing the next generation of mass communication practitioners and scholars to communicate clearly, concisely, creatively and with integrity — ultimately advancing the communications professions in a democratic society.
 
“Starting in Fall 2020, we’re going to have a new Sports Media concentration at SJMC and opportunities like this are going to be a big part of the draw,” Hull continued. “We have so many students who are interested in sports media, many of whom already are working with the Gamecocks, so we expect our concentration to be really popular. Charles Bloom, who is one of our distinguished SJMC grads, and the rest of Gamecock athletics have been so welcoming to our students and supportive of our sports media classes, that we think this is the start of something big.”
 
For more information on the audio-only broadcasts and the Gamecocks, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com.
 
THE RADIO TEAM
Trey  Martin
Year: Junior
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Irmo, S.C.
 
Zach McKinstry
Year: Junior
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Matthews, N.C.
 
Dillon Clark
Year: Junior
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
THE RADIO SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Fri., Feb. 7 – North Dakota State
Fri., Feb. 7 – Southern Illinois
Sat., Feb. 8 – Ohio State
Sun., Feb. 9 – UNCG
Fri., Feb. 21 – Boston College
Fri., Feb. 21 – Iowa State
Sat., Feb. 22 – Michigan
Sun., Feb. 23 – Elon
Wed., Feb. 26 – Georgia Southern
Sat., Feb. 29 – Troy
Sat., Feb. 29 – Charlotte
Sun., Mar. 1 – Charlotte
Sun., Mar. 1 – Troy 
Wed., Mar 4 – College of Charleston
Fri., Mar. 13 – LSU
Sat., Mar. 14 – LSU
Sun., Mar. 15 – LSU
Wed., Mar. 18 – Presbyterian
Fri., Apr. 3 – Auburn
Sat., Apr. 4 – Auburn
Sun., Apr. 5 – Auburn
Tues., Apr. 7 – Clemson
Wed., Apr. 8 – Furman
Fri., Apr. 17 – Texas A&M
Sat., Apr. 18 – Texas A&M
Sun., Apr. 19 – Texas A&M
Wed., Apr. 22 – Charleston Southern