118. Adapting to a Changing World with Sports Journalist Jane McManus

116. Adapting to a Changing World with Sports Journalist Jane McManus

Introducing Jane McManus

Today I’m talking to sports journalist Jane McManus about adapting to a changing world.

Her Career Journey

Jane earned her BA in liberal arts at St. John’s College and went on to earn her MS in journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Jane started her career at The Journal News and later for ESPN and now Deadspin. She has covered the NFL and been an analyst for SportsCenter, The Sports Reporters, and Outside the Lines in addition to having a radio show and podcast. She is currently the executive director at the Center for Sports Media at Seton Hall University.

Adapting to a Changing World

When Jane graduated from journalism school, the New York newspaper scene was still in its heyday. After getting her start there, she’s watched the entire industry shift and evolve many times over. Throughout it all, Jane loved teaching and kept that as a part of her life. Jane keeps adapting to a changing world by drawing strength from her multiple identities and being deliberate when choosing her path.

Inside this episode:

    • Growing up, Jane didn’t even know that women could be sports writers because she’d never seen a woman in sports journalism.
    • Similarly, she’s never considered being a sports writer until a friend pointed out that she was the perfect fit for the job.
    • Jane had to work her way up after school. She advises her student to take advantage of every opportunity presented to them but to also be aware that not everyone’s hard work pays off every single time. 
    • When Jane found that certain doors were closed to her as a woman writing about sports, she focused on her unique voice and wrote about accountability in sports.
    • Jane’s current job allows her to focus on teaching and mentorship while continuing to write, a mix of both passions that’s perfect for this stage in her career.
    • Jane sought out challenges to stay engaged in her work. She knew that it was time for a change when things started to feel too comfortable. 
    • When Jane was laid off from ESPN, she and her family jumped at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live abroad. They spent two years in London and all benefitted from this change in perspective, which would have never happened if Jane and her husband hadn’t made the decision to make the most of unexpected circumstances.

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