CBS Sports Lead Golf Producer Sellers Shy Mentors HPU Students
CBS Sports’ Lead Golf Producer Sellers Shy, who serves as High Point University’s Network Television Producer in Residence, recently visited campus to mentor students, provide networking advice and offer tips to improve their pregame broadcast. Pictured from left is Shy critiquing the pregame broadcast of media production students Jack O’Donnell, Isabella Vitali and Caleb Leventhal.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 16, 2024 – CBS Sports’ Lead Golf Producer Sellers Shy, who serves as High Point University’s Network Television Producer in Residence, recently visited campus to mentor students, provide networking advice and offer tips to improve their pregame broadcast.
Shy conducted a live production workshop in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication’s newly renovated TV studio with students, who recorded HPU’s first ESPNU pregame broadcast prior to the men’s basketball team hosting Longwood University on Feb. 1. The Panthers earned a 93-76 win in front of a large crowd inside the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.
After watching the pregame video with student crew members, Shy complimented them for “representing their campus perfectly and the basketball program incredibly well.”
“I’m only here today to encourage you and to inspire you,” said Shy. “I also want to get out of here alive so take my criticism with a grain of salt. I understand your limitations. You don’t have 165 cameras like we had on Sunday at the Super Bowl. In a golf broadcast, we have about 50 cameras.”
During his visit, Shy met with 50 HPU students selected to work at The Masters Tournament, one of the PGA’s ultimate externship opportunities, from April 8-14. He also recorded film content for HPU+, an Access to Innovators podcast, shared lunch with communication students and participated in a meet-and-greet.
“It was a great opportunity to hear a professional in the industry,” said Caleb Leventhal, a junior media production and entrepreneurship major from North Haven, Connecticut. “We all want to work for the big companies like CBS and ESPN, but he reminded us that it’s a long road with no easy shortcut. It’s not a simple, straight-forward path that you get hired right out of college, go to CBS and right to the top of the action. He provided some good insight on how to improve in the future.”
“He’s where we want to be in 20 years,” said Jack O’Donnell, a sophomore media production major from Avon, Connecticut. “I just want to know how do you get there and not give up. He talked about keeping in mind how far you’ve come but also looking to where you can go next.”
Shy got an early start on his career at CBS Sports when he served as a young volunteer for the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, which was then the only professional franchise in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. He joined CBS Sports full-time in 1997, becoming only the third lead producer in the network’s more than 65 years of golf coverage. The multiple Emmy Award winner also produces NCAA basketball and the NFL on CBS.
“It was great knowing that you don’t really have to know somebody who knows somebody or be best friends with the person who runs CBS to be able to get there,” said Isabella Vitali, a sophomore media production major from Manalapan, New Jersey. “It’s true you have to work for what you want, and it’s nice seeing somebody who has and is humble about it. I realized this year I want to go more into live TV broadcasting rather than be on the film side. It was nice to work on a pregame show and then get feedback from somebody who does that for a living.”
Shy’s statement that most broadcasters work their way up from the bottom hit home for Jimmy Rosselli, a freshman sports media major from Long Island, New York, who wants to pursue a career as a play-by-play broadcaster.
“Shy spoke about how when he produces The Masters he often is sitting next to people who went through the same long paths as himself,” said Rosselli. “This advice will help me tremendously during the week of working at The Masters as I will be sure to keep motivation and hospitality throughout the entirety of the week because I never know who I am talking to – even if I am tired or hungry or just need a break. I believe if I do this, I will make good connections and relationships with people, hopefully helping further my sports broadcasting career choice.”
Dr. Doug Hall, HPU vice president for career and professional development, agreed with Shy’s advice to never miss an opportunity to network. “You never know who is around, so remain positive and prepared to have a conversation with anyone you come in contact with,” said Hall. “You never know where the conversation could lead next.”
Chloe Holsinger, a junior entrepreneurship major with a minor in leadership from Charleston, South Carolina, said she is thrilled to work for her first time at The Masters.
“Sellers was very insightful on what we should expect during our time there,” Holsinger said. “He reminded us of the importance of respect and how it applies to serving the patrons. Not only should we respect them, but we should respect the other people working there and ourselves. I believe what Sellers said is applicable to not only The Masters but my future career as well. My main takeaway was that each of us plays a vital role in this process, and we are to act with respect and professionalism.”