From Final Four to Summer Baseball, Student Builds Sports Journalism Skills
Emily Tuttle is turning classroom preparation into real-world sports journalism experience, using Final Four reporting and an upcoming Rockford Rivets internship to sharpen her deadline writing, sideline reporting and confidence as a rising sports media professional.
Live sports coverage leaves little room for hesitation: Reporters must observe, interview and write on deadline, often within hours. That is the kind of experience Cedarville University Emily Tuttle, a broadcasting, digital media and journalism major, is building as she heads into a summer internship with the Rockford Rivets after reporting at the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
This summer, Tuttle, from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, will serve as a journalism intern with the Rockford Rivets, a Northwoods League baseball team based in Illinois. The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league made up of players from colleges and universities across the country. In that role, she will cover home games, produce game stories and feature content and contribute to sideline reporting.
“I’m excited — and a little nervous — about the fast turnaround,” said Tuttle. “I’ll watch a game, take notes and then have to file a story within a couple of hours. But that’s real-life sports journalism, and I’m ready to learn.”
The opportunity builds on reporting experience Tuttle gained this spring at the 2026 Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis through the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Full Court Press workshop, a training program for aspiring sports reporters.
Full Court Press Workshop Provided Immersive Sports Media Training
The workshop gave Tuttle immersive, real-world reporting experience at the media day of one of college athletics’ biggest events. Participants attended press conferences with NCAA coaches and players, collaborated with professional sportswriters and produced live coverage under tight deadlines.
“Being right there in the middle of that energy — the team camaraderie, the massive stadium, all the media hustling around — it was unforgettable,” said Tuttle. “It hit me that I wasn’t just there as a spectator — I was there as media.”
Final Four Press Conferences Helped Build Confidence as a Sports Reporter
The energy of the event was memorable, but Tuttle said the experience also challenged her to grow as a reporter.
“Going into the Final Four, I knew I was going to be nervous,” said Tuttle. “I did a lot of research beforehand. But once I was actually at those press conferences and started asking questions, I realized it didn’t have to be scary. The coaches were willing to talk, the other reporters were just people doing their jobs and all that preparation really paid off.”
Tuttle said the experience reinforced her career aspirations in sports media and gave her added confidence as she prepares for the next step.
“By the end, I didn’t just feel like a student who got lucky,” said Tuttle. “I felt like a journalist who belonged there.”
Passion for Sports and Writing Led Emily Tuttle to Sports Journalism
Her interest in journalism developed early, shaped by a lifelong exposure to sports and storytelling. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, Tuttle said she recognized an opportunity to merge her passion for athletics with her strengths in writing and communication.
“When I realized I could combine my love for sports with writing and actually be at games on the press side, it clicked. Sports journalism became this really natural way to stay involved in something I care deeply about.”
As she heads into the summer, Tuttle said she is ready for the pace, pressure and opportunities that come with live sports reporting.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.