A journalist for sportsology.com told students in a class on Wednesday, Feb. 26, about his experiences writing about professional sports teams and the challenges that you can face when obtaining interviews.
Matthew Blittner didn’t always plan on becoming a sports journalist. He initially aspired to be a lawyer, studying business administration before getting his master’s in sports management.
During this time, he landed an internship with hockey journalist Stan Fischler at MSG Networks, which became an experience that left him uninspired. He hated the writing and hated the job, but when he unexpectedly was sent to cover a Rangers game in Boston, he was hooked.
Since then, Blittner has built a career covering the NHL, hosting radio shows, and creating digital content. He has written numerous articles, covered hundreds of games, and authored multiple books.
“It’s one thing to feel confident in a social setting, but it’s very different when you have to approach a stranger in a professional context,” Blittner told Dr. Nick Hirshon’s COMM 1100: Communication in Action class in Grant Hall.
Blittner highlighted that it doesn’t matter if someone is introverted or extroverted; it is essential to be able to read someone’s body language and understand what it means.
Blittner went on to describe how it is important for someone to feel comfortable in an interview because they will inclined to tell you more.
One recurring theme throughout Blittner’s presentation was the challenge of interviewing athletes. Especially just after a game where they may not have performed their best.
He said players can’t be perfect every single game, and they are “not gonna score a hundred points and act like they’re Wilt Chamberlain — it’s just not gonna happen,” said Blittner.
Professional athletes aren’t perfect, and you need to learn how to talk to people without making them defensive. This way, you can gain as much information as possible about what they are thinking or how they feel.
Sometimes, professional athletes can feel attacked by a journalist because they are being pressured to talk about a sore topic.
You can’t continue to lead someone down a road they don’t want to go down. “You have to adjust,” Blittner said. “Otherwise, the person will shut down.”
In a situation like this, someone may stop talking to you or stop answering your questions because of the line of questioning.
Blittner also describes how it is important to be prepared when going into an interview and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice.
You may know who a particular person is, where they went to school, where they grew up, and have a whole line of questioning ready just to be told that they are not talking to the press, Blittner told the class.
With this Blittner shared several stories from his career, demonstrating the balance between persistence and respect in journalism.
He provided instances where athletes shut down during interviews and moments when he had to pivot or shift his approach. He was also active with the class, doing an activity that taught hands-on how to interview someone.
Whether dealing with an upset player after a loss or navigating writing for a major publication. Blittner said that every interaction is a learning experience.
Before concluding, Blittner left students with a final piece of advice: effective communication extends far beyond journalism. Whether in business or daily interactions, knowing how to engage with people is a skill that can open doors.
“At the end of the day, it’s about building trust,” Blittner said. “If you can make someone comfortable, you’re already halfway to getting the answers you need.”
