PRSSA Hosts JMU Alumnus Andy Hall

By: Helen Nguyen, PRSSA General Body Member

Andy Hall, one of the Directors of Communication for ESPN, shared with PRSSA his experiences, skills and knowledge in the sports industry. As a JMU alumni, he reflected on his time at JMU, recalling activities that helped him find himself in the PR world and how to apply the knowledge he learned in school.

Lessons Learned From Experience

Hall believes his internships and education at JMU made him interested and successful in the sports field. He recalled his passion for journalism and broadcasting, eventually leading to his interest in car racing. That combination brought him his first big opportunity to work in the field.

“You have to learn how to prioritize and that just comes with experience. There’s no such thing such as a basic day. You don’t know what will happen next in the PR world.”

Hall shared his many learning experiences through the pandemic. The first couple months into the pandemic, there were no sports events, making it difficult to keep audiences engaged. The biggest challenge for Hall was finding creative ways to try to keep ESPN relevant.

“We take our jobs seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. At the end of the day, it is sports. It's supposed to be fun. And we try to make it that way.”

Andy's Advice to Students

Andy advised volunteering at where you want to see yourself. He suggested taking every opportunity you possibly can because you never know where it could lead.

“You get your foot in the door by volunteering your services at places. It’s good just to learn how things work,” Andy said. “Be curious and keep yourself updated on what the latest things are because it changes so much.”

Thank you for all your advice, Andy!