CBS Sports, Exceptional Minds Create New Career Paths in Media Management for Autism Community
17/06/2022
Friday, June 17, 2022 - 11:46 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
With the sports-production industry facing a shrinking workforce, many broadcasters are exploring new avenues to recruit the next generation of talent while also diversifying its ranks. Meanwhile, Exceptional Minds, a California non-profit preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for creative careers in the entertainment industry, is looking to create job opportunities for its graduates beyond Hollywood.
These two paths have converged at CBS Sports, where a pair of Exceptional Minds graduates - Adam Schuering and Michael Cicerelli - are working and thriving in the media-management department under VP, Post-Production and Media Operations, Ed Coleman.
I have a son who is on the on the spectrum, says Coleman. He's very creative and really into animation, so I was just searching the internet for online courses in that field for kids on the spectrum. I came across Exceptional Minds. As I started to look at their organization and the type of work that they do, I realized very quickly that this could apply to a lot of the work we do at CBS Sports and, hopefully, give these young people some great opportunities.
Exceptional Minds provides real-world training for its students.
Exceptional Minds provides critical technical and work-readiness training customized to help its students achieve their full artistic and professional potential, creating a new pipeline of talented media professionals and fostering inclusive hiring practices. Exceptional Minds and its partners are building a future where neurodiverse perspectives are vital to advancing a more empowered and inclusive society.
After discovering Exceptional Minds, Coleman contacted the organization's career-development and placement department and soon received a list of graduates and their concentrations and majors. He picked out a group of candidates who had an interest in editing, archive, and digital-media workflows and, having conducted a handful of interviews, narrowed the group to Schuering and Cicerelli.
Once they were aboard, Coleman assigned each a senior MAM-focused employee to help them get started and oversee their development.
We took more of a tailored approach - almost a mentorship type of model, where we paired each of them with one of our senior people, says Coleman. We found that we didn't have to slow down the pace much because both these guys jumped in and took to it pretty quickly. In addition to giving both of them some great experience, it was great to see people on my own team step up and show leadership, show empathy, and really embrace working with these two young people. It was unbelievable to see the organization come together and help these guys out.
Schuering now works with CBS Sports Network's media-asset-management team - scheduling records, restoring content from the archive, assisting in edits, and handling other day-to-day operations. Cicerelli works with CBS Sports' digital-archives team, digitizing tapes for the MAM and archive systems and helping with the day-to-day support of MAM and live workflows.
The people that come through Exceptional Minds - or anyone on the autism spectrum, for that matter - may have some difficulties in communicating, says Coleman, but they also have a valuable skillset and dedicated work ethic - just like anyone else can have if they have the right mindset. I would recommend to any sports organization to give people that are on the spectrum an opportunity and provide the resources that they need to be properly integrated with your team. I think you'll find that these young men and women will flourish and step up not only their game but also the game of the existing employees.
Exceptional Minds is looking to place more students in the sports-media industry.
Coleman credits CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus, President David Berson, and EVP, Operations and Engineering, Patty Power for providing him with the resources and freedom to accommodate the partnership with Exceptional Minds.
I absolutely would [make another hire through Exceptional Minds], says Coleman. I would also recommend to other divisions within sports to look into this. I'm focused on the postproduction and asset-management side, but many of the students that go through the program are very focused on graphics and animation work, so there is much potential there. Other students are just looking for a chance to show what they can do in production management and things like that but just need the opportunity.
Exceptional Minds works continuously to find mentorships, internships, and jobs for its students, who can often be overlooked in recruiting. Sports-media companies can work with the Exceptional Minds' placement team to find candidates; employees can mentor or volunteer for such roles as doing mock interviews or can speak to students about what types of roles the company offers.
Exceptional Minds works with its students on career-readiness so that they are prepared to work as part of a team and adapt to different job settings. The organization also offers its partners employer education to prepare a team for success in a neurodiverse society.
A recent class at Exceptional Minds' training facility in California
Our culture and industry are focused on DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] for very good reason: different perspectives better business overall, and autism is a perfect example of that, says Morgan Chess, head of marketing, Exceptional Minds. One in 44 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism, so having employees on the spectrum allo
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/06/17/cbs-sports-exceptional-minds-cr... |
See more stories from svg |
More from Sports Video Group
26/03/2024
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on Creating a Content Strategy That Makes a Difference
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on C...
26/03/2024
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group Managing content teams with New York Jets Jessica Ciccone, Washington Commanders Rae...
26/03/2024
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 1:01 pm Print This Story |...
26/03/2024
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 So Paulo Game, Prime Video Adds NFL Wild Card Game
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 S o Paulo Game, Prime Vid...
25/03/2024
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Breaks Down the Complexities
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Break...
25/03/2024
Rising Star: Checking Out Strategic Sports Goals With TikTok's Global Head of Sports Partnerships Rollo Goldstaub
Rising star: Checking out strategic sports goals with TikTok's global head o...
25/03/2024
TV Skyline Completes Record Winter Sports Season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalbach
TV Skyline completes record winter sports season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalb...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: New Viewing Experiences and Tracking Systems Provide a Glimpse Into the Future
Sports Innovation 2024: New viewing experiences and tracking systems provide a g...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and Warnings in Equal Measure as AI Dominates Dsseldorf Event
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and warnings in equal measure as AI dominates...
25/03/2024
NAB 2024: EVS Sets Out Plans for NAB and Highlights Industry Tech Trends
EVS sets out plans for NAB and highlights industry tech trends By George Bevir Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 16:34 Print This Story Left to right: Lisa Coll...
25/03/2024
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Live Sports Broadcast
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Liv...
25/03/2024
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Broadcast
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time...
22/03/2024
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Production
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Producti...
22/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Landscape
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Lan...
22/03/2024
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consumer, OTT Platforms
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consum...
22/03/2024
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women's March Madness From All Angles
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women'...
21/03/2024
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics Tech leaders from FIFA, Sky Sports, and Genius Sports discussed the opportunities at SVG Euro...
21/03/2024
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center for 20-Camera Productions
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center ...
21/03/2024
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Activating Content Via AI Tools
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Act...
21/03/2024
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A National-Network Feel at DC's New RSN
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A Nation...
21/03/2024
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27 By SVG Staff Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 1:47 pm Print This Story | Subscribe Story...
20/03/2024
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Production
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Produ...
20/03/2024
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimpse Into the Past and the Future
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimps...
20/03/2024
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate in South Korea
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate i...
20/03/2024
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX 52FLEX seats over 20 on-site crew members and features a first-of-its-kind Visitor Mobile Un...
20/03/2024
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65 He led regional broadcasts for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals duri...
19/03/2024
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want Sky Sports Sarah Cheadle, Telenet Play Sports Serge Bellens spoke at SVG Europes Football Summit l...
19/03/2024
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With iPhones
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With...
19/03/2024
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 10:40 am Print ...
19/03/2024
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broadcast Studios
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broa...
19/03/2024
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emBET Integration
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emB...
19/03/2024
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Through 2031-32 Season
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Throug...
18/03/2024
Major League Soccer: IMG on Capturing Fan Rituals and Delivering Consistent Coverage
Major League Soccer: IMG on capturing fan rituals and delivering consistent cove...
18/03/2024
Smashing Padel: Inside Aurora's Innovative Production of the Inaugural Hexagon Cup
Smashing padel: Inside Aurora's innovative production of the inaugural Hexag...
18/03/2024
Airspeeder Teams Up With EMG for World's First Live Broadcast of Flying Car Series
Airspeeder teams up with EMG for world's first live broadcast of flying car ...
15/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mix for NBC Sports; Coverage Goes HDR
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mi...
15/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video Systems Dissect the FAST Boom
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video...
15/03/2024
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming JV
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming ...
15/03/2024
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Drones for Second Year in a Row
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Dro...
15/03/2024
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partners, Free DTC Platform
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partn...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facility
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facil...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, Coverage
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, C...
14/03/2024
Amy Rosenfeld Named 2024 Receipient of the Colin Jose Media Award by the National Soccer Hall of Fame
Amy Rosenfeld Named 2024 Receipient of the Colin Jose Media Award by the Nationa...
14/03/2024
March Madness Live' Adds Vertical Video Feed, Apple Vision Pro Compatibility to Live Streaming Experience
March Madness Live' Adds Vertical Video Feed, Apple Vision Pro Compatibility...
13/03/2024
Vegas Golden Knights' Andrew Abrams on Meeting High Expectations For In-Arena Entertainment
Vegas Golden Knights' Andrew Abrams on Meeting High Expectations For In-Aren...
13/03/2024
SVG Sit-Down: Stats Perform's Brian Orefice on How Player Tracking With AI, Remote-Based Technology Is Possible
SVG Sit-Down: Stats Perform's Brian Orefice on How Player Tracking With AI, ...
13/03/2024
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Gcore's Alexey Petrovskikh on Driving Down Costs and Driving Up Latency Reliability of Live Streaming
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Gcore's Alexey Petrovskikh on Driving Down Costs ...
13/03/2024
Six Nations 2024: Complex Graphics Workflow Simplifies Story of the Game
Six Nations 2024: Complex graphics workflow simplifies story of the game By Fergal Ringrose Monday, March 11, 2024 - 16:54 Print This Story Sage-sponsored...
13/03/2024
In Memoriam: Andrew Lorenz - Sportvision and SMT Vet, Emmy Award-Winning Innovator, Beloved SVG Community Member
In Memoriam: Andrew Lorenz - Sportvision and SMT Vet, Emmy Award-Winning Innovat...