Sports Communication & Media (MA)

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Graduate Open House, 4/4

Visit campus, engage with faculty and hear from our student panel at the Graduate Open House on Thursday, April 4. Learn about Iona’s graduate programs, scholarship opportunities, career development services and more.

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Can’t make it in person? Join us virtually on April 10! 

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Why Sports Communication?

A Master of Arts (MA) in Sports Communication & Media degree helps you turn your love of sports into a fast-paced broadcast and media career through a variety of skill-building courses in sports journalism and broadcasting. This graduate program prepares you to share the excitement of sports with the masses through live game reporting and producing with ESPN+, studio and radio show production, blogging and more.

What Our Students & Graduates Say

In this video, Executive-in-Residence Bruce Beck, Prof. Mike Damergis and Iona students talk about our “hands-on” approach to learning. Our courses in sports hosting, studio anchoring and audio/video editing will prepare you for a successful career in this exciting field. Plus, hear from graduates now working at NBC, CBS and beyond.

 

Why Study Sports Communication & Media at Iona?

The Master’s in Sports Communication & Media program at Iona University provides you with hands-on training alongside classroom experiences. Our sports media and journalism courses are offered in the evening so that you can manage work and family life while earning your degree.

As part of your coursework, you have the opportunity to cover championship teams in our new arena and train in a state-of-the-art digital lab and ESPN production truck. What’s more, Iona’s campus in New Rochelle offers proximity to New York City with easy access to a major media hub and off-campus internship possibilities.

Iona sports media faculty are impressive professionals, including Emmy Award winners, sports hosts, play-by-play analysts, public relations directors for major sports teams and editors of sports journals. You will be connected to an extensive professional network through our faculty and alumni, providing coveted connections within the industry.

What You'll Learn

The MA in Sports Communication & Media blends traditional coursework with engagement in real-world broadcasting of professional and collegiate sports. You gain hands-on, professional experience working and training with ESPN+ and D-1 MAAC coverage of our championship basketball teams, among other professional venues.

The courses in our sports media program train you to perform at the highest level of professional media competencies, including live game reporting, video editing, studio and radio show production and blogging.

Explore Courses


Application Requirements

Two writing and/or video samples.


Contact Us

Mike Damergis in the Green Bay packers booth.

Mike Damergis

Coordinator, Sports Communication & Media Graduate Program



Mary Omatiga

The professors at Iona go above and beyond for the students and make sure students are aware of internships and job opportunities to get their careers going.

-Mary Omatiga ’19MA, writer at NBC Sports Group
Read More About Mary Here

Careers & Outcomes

During the Master’s in Sports Communication & Media, you gain the experience and skills to successfully enter the world of sports media. Graduates have pursued careers in sports journalism, announcing, sports broadcasting and reporting and digital media.

Job Titles

  • Sports Anchor
  • Digital Content Creator
  • Podcaster
  • Media Specialist
  • Olympics Researcher
  • Show Host
  • Sports Radio Producer
  • Video Producer
  • Videographer

Graduates have worked at:

Sirius-XM
CBS Sports logo
Fantasy Sports Network Logo
Madison Square Garden logo
YES Network logo.
NBA Digital Logo
NBC Sports Group logo
Brooklyn Nets
Sports Grid logo
News12 Networks Logo

How do you land a job covering the Super Bowl?

Iona alumnus Kevin Walsh ’17MA, now at SportsGrid, talks about what it’s been like being live on the scene at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. While studying Sports Communication & Media at Iona, Kevin also covered as many events as possible from the Hynes Athletics Center.

Deyaneyra Perea Rivera: From the Classroom to Telemundo

Deyaneyra Perea Rivera '22MA credits the mentorship she received from Iona faculty with helping her land her dream job at Telemundo, the nation's #1 Spanish television station.

Deyaneyra Perea Rivera quote.

Iona University Welcomes Emmy Award-Winning Sports Anchor Bruce Beck as Executive-in-Residence

Beck will serve as a mentor and resource for students in Iona’s Sports Communication & Media Graduate Program helping them to "improve their skills now and define new opportunities for the future."

Read More: Bruce Beck at Iona

Program Highlights

ESPN Production Truck

Iona University broadcasts its home sporting events on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Students in the Sports Communication & Media program work inside the facilities—calling the games and operating the cameras—and on a state-of-the-art equipment truck directing and producing the broadcast. These skill-building opportunities are integrated into the sports journalism courses.

State-of-the-Art Multimedia Lab

Our new, state-of-the-art multimedia digital lab helps develop sports media skills crucial to your future career. You will have hands-on experience with the radio studio and audio desk with Adobe Creative Suite software and more.

Cover Championship Teams

Our students have the opportunity to cover MAAC championship games for multiple sports including cross country, basketball and esports. Iona’s 2023 men’s and women’s basketball teams were among one of four programs in the country to win both conferences, and our students were on the ground to cover this exciting milestone.

The Showdown in Beantown: A Night with Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez

In the Fall 2023 semester, Iona graduate student Julius Luchs was given the opportunity to personally interview baseball legends Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez. Additionally, Iona professor Mike Damergis sat down for in-depth interview to talk about their time with the Yankees and more.

Mike Torrez Talks About the 1978 Showdown in 1978 vs the Yankees with Graduate Student Julius Lachs

Iona Sports Media Professor Mike Damergis's Full Interview with Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez

Bucky Dent Speaks About his Home Run in 1978 with Graduate Student Julius Lachs

Iona Students Interview Baseball Legends

Ray Jarvis ‘24MA and Julius Luchs ‘24MA landed one-on-one interviews with Dwight “Doc” Gooden and William “Mookie” Wilson when the baseball legends visited Iona on April 4, 2023. This is just one example of the kind of opportunities students in the Sports Communication & Media (MA) program can expect to receive during their graduate education.

Julius Luchs '24MA Interviews William "Mookie" Wilson

Ray Jarvis '24MA Interviews Dwight "Doc" Gooden

Prof. Mike Damergis Hosts a Q&A with "Doc" Gooden and "Mookie" Wilson

Learn From Industry Professionals

Mike Jimenez

  • Emmy Award-Winning Producer
Mike Jimenez

Rick Cerrone

  • Former New York Yankees PR Director during World Championships (1996-2007).
Rick Cerrone

Marc Malusis

  • Sports Anchor with WPIX TV
Marc Malusis

Anthony Carlo ‘15MA from Eyewitness News credits Iona with helping him land his dream job!

Read Anthony's Story Now

Anthony Carlo '15MA Eyewitness News

Where Are They Now?

Our graduates have gone on to work at SiriusXM, CBS Sports, the YES Network and more!

Learn More: Where our Graduates Work

Where are they now collage? of students from the Sports Comm program.

Iona University Professor Wins Cannes World Film Festival “Best Historical Documentary”

Clinical Professor Mike Damergis '89, '06MS shares the powerful story of a man who saved 350,000 Christian minorities from slaughter during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Read More about this exciting award

World Film Festival Poster for Smyrna: Paradise is Burning

Emmy Award-Winning Students

Anthony Carlo '15MA

Emmy Award-Winning Reporter

Anthony Carlo

Nick Hydo '18MA

Emmy Award-Winning Director

Nick Hydo

Learn more about Sports Communication & Media at Iona

Iona University’s Master of Arts in Sports Communication & Media degree offers unique experiences and courses in sports journalism. Our graduate program’s hands-on approach to sports media and expert faculty prepares you for a successful career in sports communication.

Request information to learn more, or begin your application.

Find Out what an Iona Education Can Do For You

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