CMST 4879 - Game Day Content Production
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42432,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Adam Earnheardt
Email: acearnheardt@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose One | n/a | n/a | n/a |
NO TEXTBOOK REQUIRED. Because the sports media industry evolves rapidly, a traditional textbook is outdated the moment it is printed. All required readings for this course will be provided via active links in the syllabus and on Blackboard. Readings will consist of industry reports, case studies, and articles from leading sports media outlets (e.g., Sports Video Group, Front Office Sports, Opendorse).
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | The Evolution of the In-Venue Fan Experience (Sports Video Group) | The Modern Game Day Experience | Complete reading |
| 8/31 | Understanding the Live Sports Production Control Room | The Production Workflow & Control Room | Complete reading |
| 9/7 | How Sports Teams Use Social Media to Build Hype (Sprout Social) | Pre-Game Content & The Hype Machine | Complete reading |
| 9/14 | Daktronics: Best Practices for LED Display Content | In-Venue Production: The Videoboard | Complete reading |
| 9/21 | The Speed of Sports: Real-Time Content Strategy (Front Office Sports) | Real-Time Social Media & Highlight Clipping | Complete reading |
| 9/28 | Crafting the Perfect Post-Game Recap | Post-Game Storytelling | Complete reading Content Audit Assignment due |
| 10/5 | The Athlete’s Guide to Brand Building (Opendorse) | Athlete Branding & NIL Integration | Complete reading |
| 10/12 | Fan Engagement in Sports (Subtext) | The Elements of Fan Engagement | Complete reading |
| 10/19 | How to seamlessly integrate sponsors into sports digital content (SponsorUnited) | Integrating Corporate Sponsors Naturally | Complete reading Social Media Plan for a Team on Game Day due |
| 10/26 | Social Media Fails in Sports and How to Avoid Them (PR Daily) | Crisis Communications on Game Day | Complete reading |
| 11/2 | Bridging the Gap Between Broadcast and In-Venue | Broadcast vs. In-House Production | Complete reading |
| 11/9 | Measuring Sports Social Media ROI (Hootsuite) | Analytics, Metrics, and ROI | Complete reading Athlete Branded Content Assignment due |
| 11/16 | How AI is Changing Live Sports Video (Sports Business Journal) | Emerging Tech in Game Day Media | Complete reading |
| 11/23 | No readings | Game Day Content Project Workshop | Prep for final project, group meeetings |
| 11/30 | No readings | Project Refinement & Dry Runs | Prep for final project, group meeetings |
| 12/7 | No readings | In-Class Client Presentations | In-Class Client Presentations (Groups) |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.