How Caitlin Crawford Got The Chance Of A Lifetime To Work With The Dallas Cowboys

By Judy Sullivan





University of Oklahoma graduate and Dallas native Caitlin Crawford got the internship opportunity of her dreams when she was chosen for the chance to work with the media department of the Dallas Cowboys. She was a longtime fan of this football team and was excited to be a part of it all and put the skills she had learned in the broadcast and electronic media program, which she graduated from in 2013, to good use.



In order to grab the attention of those in charge of choosing interns, Caitlin realized that it was important to show them just what she was capable of, that would set her apart from the rest, so she submitted her best produced articles and they were impressed. She was given a phone interview, and the rest is history.



As a word of advice to others who hope to follow in Crawford's footsteps, she says it's a good idea if one is interested in pursuing this career path, that he or she focus on becoming increasingly comfortable in front of the camera. It's also very important to have strong and convincing written communication skills, as well as being able to produce excellent video work and possessing technical savvy.



Crawford was happy to get the opportunity to put some of her acquired technical knowledge to practical use while on her internship besides having the chance to become more comfortable in front of the camera, she also got to apply her skills with editing software and applications and was thrilled when they relied on her to operate a new playback system which no one else was familiar with except her.



Prior to beginning her work with the Dallas Cowboys media department, Caitlin realized the importance of doing some research about many aspects of the team including its scores, staff, and players. She was able to serve as an intern for two summers when school was not in session, and was even asked to collaborate on productions during other times of the year.



Duties as an intern tended to vary with each day's schedule for Caitlin. Her work was during the team's off-season, training camp period, and sometimes she would be responsible for interviewing the players when they were available. Active involvement in the production of televised programs, script and feature development were other tasks which made up her daily work schedule.



In Crawford's opinion, the Dallas Cowboys and other major sports organizations like it value certain abilities in those who work for them. Those who are punctual and do not watch the clock are appreciated here, as are those who demonstrate dedication, persistence, and the willingness to learn from their mistakes. Having a strong work ethic, being an "ideas person", self-starter and always conducting thorough research is also valued highly.



Her time with the Dallas Cowboys was truly inspiring to Caitlin Crawford who aspires to have a career in sports broadcast journalism. With this experience to add to her resume as well as her involvement with the school sport newscasting department, she is likely to find a rewarding position with a news station or sports organization.









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