For the past year, National Basketball Retired Players Association members have had the great opportunity to take part in special training sessions from the media professionals at Reel Media Group. Thanks to the partnership between the NBRPA and Reel Media, NBRPA members have been able to work exclusively with the nation’s top broadcasting coaches. Reel Media Co-Owners Stephanie Siegel, an Emmy Award Winning Reporter and former ESPN Anchor Bram Weinstein, have pioneered a program for players to learn the skills needed to become a successful media personality.
“To use our experience and expertise with members seeking direction in the business of sports media is a true treat,” said Weinstein, Senior Vice President of Reel Media’s Sports Division. “More and more, media outlets rely on former athletes as liaisons to connect with their audience and we want to make sure that these past greats are as prepared and able as they can be once they get their moment in front of the camera.”
Reel Media Group is an organization dedicated to being a conduit between journalists, broadcasters, producers and talent managers to supply high quality media training. NBRPA members have been able to utilize the partnership with Reel Media by participating in their sports intensive training program. The training includes letting members work in a state of the art broadcast studio and working one on one with a set of talented producers, including Weinstein. The training helps break down the top discipline and techniques of a sports commentator when engaging in commentary and broadcasting opportunities.
Members who have worked with Reel Media so far include Mike Brown, Jerome Williams, Reggie Williams, Keith Closs, Marcus Brown, Sedric Toney, Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith, Cedric Henderson, Mamadou N'Diaye and Dale Ellis.
Jerome Williams, who started his own network called Champions Basketball Network, took advantage of the partnership with Reel Media to fine tune his media skills and help him propel his network. “Reel Media has helped me tremendously with finding and helping NBA Legends get appearances with my Champions Basketball Network,” said Williams. “They gave me some of the nuisances and detailed insight on how to improve my media skills. As the co-owner of Champions Basketball Network, I realize that you can never have too much training and Reel Media is top notch.”
Reel Media has also participated in many of the NBRPA’s hallmark events throughout the year including All-Star Weekend and the Legends World Sports Conference. Annually throughout the year, they host training sessions and workshops in remote locations throughout the U.S. and invite all NBRPA members who are willing to participate. The NBRPA will announce throughout the year when these programs will take place.
This past February, Joe Smith took his experience from participating in Reel Media’s training to the studio when he conducted an interview on CNN with Don Lemon to discuss Lamar Odom’s health scare.
Theo Ratliff also participated in studio work as he took part in an interview with CBS46 in Atlanta to discuss the Atlanta Hawks.
Reel Media has a litany of upcoming opportunities for players participating in their training sessions. They will provide members the chance to shoot their demo reels in Atlanta at the CBS 46 Studio and in Las Vegas at the KLAS-TV studio. KLAS-TV will also use select members to appear on their station throughout the basketball season as experts/contributors. Reel Media will also give members the chance to work with Arthur Samuel Joseph, broadcasting vocal coach to all the top sports networks including ESPN, CBS Sports and NFL Network.
“Our success working with the NBRPA and its members so far has been amazing. We look forward to the many teachings and opportunities in the future that we will be able to provide to them,” said Siegel.
To learn more about Reel Media Group, visit their website at www.reelmediagroup.tv. If interested in participating in future training sessions or workshops, contact NBRPA Senior Vice President of Partnership Scott Rochelle at 847-736-1328 or srochelle@legendsofbasketball.com.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Arnie D. Fielkow is the President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Thurl Bailey, Vice Chairman Dwight Davis, Treasurer Eldridge Recasner, Secretary Nancy Lieberman, Rick Barry, James Donaldson, Mike Glenn, Spencer Haywood, LaRue Martin Jr., David Naves, Johnny Newman and Casey Shaw.
About Reel Media Group
Reel Media Group is a talent development, training and mentorship agency for broadcasters in news and sports with partnerships. RMG provides aspiring television journalists unprecedented access to the industry’s best experts to provide a foundation for a long fulfilling career in broadcasting.