Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Broadcasting for Sports Media (Face-to-Face)

COMM 2707-01

Course: COMM 2707-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: COMM
CRN: 11434

Course Description

Sports Broadcasting will be a detailed study in all aspects of the industry to provide an overall understanding and appreciation of the art of sports broadcasting. Students will be introduced to a wide array of techniques and philosophies for sports broadcasting - from fundamentals and essentials to advanced learning methods. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

None required.

Learning Outcomes

Hands-on opportunities to learn various sports broadcasting concepts. Your success is entirely based on your effort and how well you apply yourself to the course materials. By the end of the course, you should have mastered the following objectives and outcomes:

1.      Develop competency in sports broadcast mediums including game coverage, sports talk, podcasting, and studio hosting.
2.      Understand of the differences between broadcasting for "TV" and for Radio and the distinct nuances of different calls, analysis, and coverage.
3.      Ability to understand the distinctions of defined roles in sports broadcast settings including play-by-play, color analyst, reporter, studio host...etc.
4.      Increased understanding of stat-keeping and broadcast/game preparation for different roles within the broadcast.
5.      Use of appropriate and descriptive sports terminology for specific sports, situations, locations on the court, field, or diamond...etc.
6.      Develop interview skills with consideration for diverse individuals, different stages and times in a game and/or broadcast.
7.      Improve ability to critique "on-air" work of others and self.

Course Requirements

The COMM 2707 experience involves hands-on practice and performance opportunities, in-class critique sessions, and student-led discussions. Students should plan to participate, share opinions, and receive critique of their work.

ASSIGNMENT AND PROJECT SUBMISSIONS: Assignments and projects are due as specified in Canvas - generally by 11:59 pm on Sunday nights. Due dates are subject to change as the semester progresses. In addition, any file or assignment submitted in the wrong format will be scored zero and students will need to resubmit in the correct format. A late penalty will apply for re-submissions if assignments are turned in after the due date. Assignments and lessons may be turned in early.

CANVAS: The online tool Canvas will be used extensively in this class and knowledge of its operation will be indispensable to your success. Students should take the time to become familiar with Canvas and all it offers. It will also contain other class resources including assignment and lesson details, quizzes, and tests. Assignments submitted incorrectly will not be graded, including an assignment submitted as a different assignment.

PERSONAL SOFTWARE: This class requires a minimal amount of audio editing using the software of the students’ choice. SUU students have free access to Adobe Audition and may install the software on their own devices. See the video in the Media Gallery of Canvas for instructions. Students may also use a computer in one of the SUU campus labs. There will be some instruction of audio editing in class. 

TIME COMMITMENT: Class meets three times per week plus one weekly assignment, project, and/or broadcast participation.

CITIZENSHIP: Good citizenship is essential for your success in class. Please observe all class requirements and deadlines.

Course Outline

Three Modules titled “Pregame”, “Game Time”, and “Post Game”. Assignments are classified as “Broadcast”, “Tune-In”, and “In-Class” projects and are designed to take a student through the process of preparing for a game broadcast, setting up the equipment, and carrying out the broadcast with a study of all the nuances involved in each of those activities.

Module 1: Pregame

  • Three Broadcast projects to learn audio recording, editing, studio board operation, broadcast equipment setup, and on-air procedures.
  • Three In-Class projects to cover networking, game research and preparation, and initial performance including avoiding crutch words.
  • Two Tune-In projects to watch a game, pay special attention to 1) the play-by-play broadcaster and 2) the color analyst, and report on observations.

Module 2: Game Time

  • Three Broadcast projects to practice audio recording and editing, practice the skills learned in module 1, and start to develop a broadcast/on-air “demo” used in showcasing broadcast abilities and job applications.
  • Three In-Class projects to cover keeping stats and familiarity with various fields of play (baseball diamond, football field, basketball court), their dimensions, specific descriptions for different areas of play, and terminology used in the industry for a variety of sports and events.
  • One Tune-In project to listen to a game on the radio or another audio format with special attention to the play-by-play broadcaster and the color analyst and the different style compared with TV/Livestream broadcasting, and report on observations.
  • An in-class mid-term critique of the prepared “demo” in which students both give and receive critique from classmates, the instructor and guest working in the broadcast industry.

Module 3: Post Game

  • Two Broadcast projects to practice sports talk/podcast skills and techniques and to  improve/further develop on-air broadcast skills, especially with follow-up feedback provided in the in-class critique.
  • One In-Class project to cover livestreaming, how to work in and operate livestream broadcast software.
  • One Tune-In project to further study the sports talk/podcast industry standards, preparation, and performance. 
  • A final one-on-one critique with the instructor (the play-by-play broadcaster of SUU football and men’s basketball and Canyon View High School athletics and has 20+ years’ experience in play-by-play broadcasting) provide feedback on areas improved upon since the in-class critique and further areas of improvement.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Each assignment will have a due date and an available until date. Late work will be accepted at a penalty of 20% per day after the due date. Full credit may still be awarded in situations of illness, emergency or because of other reasons discussed with me prior to a given due date. It is the students’ responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor in advance when possible to submit late assignments and lesson files. ALL submissions are due by 4/19/26 at 11:59 pm.

Attendance Policy

As a face-to-face class, the nature of this course demands consistent attendance and participation is vital. Students should turn off or silence cell phones during class and expect to engage and participate. If they need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy due to a disability, they contact the Disability Resource Center. DRC will work with the instructor to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate. Consistent attendance and engagement will earn students 50 participation points.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.