ESPN Boston's Brendan Hall

Encouragement and Advise for Aspiring Journalists: a Day with Brendan Hall

A hammer of accents breaks the ice covering a classroom full of journalists on the seventh floor of the Dubois Library. Brendan Hall, a writer for ESPNBoston.com tailored to the high school sports beat, sits comfortably at the front of the class. His advice as a successful reporter and former student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst gives to his thickly accented feedback.

During his tenure at UMass, Hall wrote for the Daily Collegian, Worcester Telegram, and the Hampshire Gazette. During his time with the Collegian he focused on sports pieces and police writing, a combination he believes aided his career tremendously. Hall continued informing the class of the valuable information he gleaned during his internship with the Boston Globe fall semester of his senior year.

A volley of questions and answers soon filled the classroom. “Details illuminate your story and give it life,” said Hall. After which each of the 16 or so heads in the room jerked down toward their notebooks.

The time Hall spent in the classroom was divided between a self-told biography, a variety of advice, and resulting question and answers.

Hall found himself answering questions ranging from his favorite piece, networking, writing styles, reporting formulas, and his own enjoyment of the high school sports beat from the aspiring students. Hall advised the students that practice would make perfect in their reporting.

When it came to questions regarding interviews and those difficult and prying questions, Hall had one thing to say “, avoid trigger words.” He explained the way that reporters phrased their questions had an enormous effect on the pending response, or lack there of. He encouraged the class to read up and gain background information on their subjects in order to make this job easier.

Hall was passionate in describing his love for the high school beat, and admitted he’s had a lot of fun. He pulled up a recently recorded podcast from ESPNBoston.com in order for the class to get a feel for his style of reporting.

He was quick to question the class as to whether they used Twitter, and encouraged them to do so, explaining that Twitter was an excellent way to get your work viewed, and claim credit for reporting a story first.

In closing, Hall advised the classroom of journalists to “, get the job done.” Placing emphasis on the importance of concisely reporting their stories, and worrying about style later.

When asked about his own style of reporting, he said it was natural and hard to describe accurately in words.

His personable nature, good humor, and exceptional advice is sure to have a positive affect on the students. In the least, its sure to get him a few more followers on Twitter.