By Matthew W. Maxey | Published Oct 29, 2014
Many people envision the life of a NFL beat reporter as someone with great seats at games and amazing access to the players and coaches of America’s top sport. While on the surface both of those statements are true, the day-to-day grind of a beat reporter’s life is far from being highlighted on the next episode of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”
As the 2014 NFL season kicked off we sat down with two of preeminent voices on the Tennessee Titans, Jim Wyatt and Paul Kuharsky. Both are veterans of the industry that have seen it grow and progress over the years, especially with the addition of social media. The pair lets us take a look into the day-to-day grind, while also discussing the evolving role of a beat reporter in today’s new media world and what some of the common misconceptions of the job are.
Jim Wyatt – The Tennessean
Wyatt, a graduate of The University of Tennessee but proud Vanderbilt Commodore fan, has been the lead Titans beat reporter for The Tennessean since 2000. Wyatt began his journalism career at The Tennessean as a part-time employee before becoming the preps coordinator in 1997-98. He then began covering the Nashville Predators and Titans both in 1999 before moving to the Titans beat full time. Wyatt also appears on 104.5 The Zone’s afternoon show 3HL every Tuesday for an hour to discuss the Titans.
Paul Kuharsky – ESPN.com & MidDay 180
Kuharsky, a Columbia grad, is widely known to Titans fans, currently serving as the team’s reporter for ESPN.com, while also co-hosting the popular radio show, MidDay 180 on 104.5 The Zone weekdays from noon to three. Previously Kuharsky was the Titans beat reporter at The Tennessean and prior to that covered the Raiders for the Oakland Tribune and worked in the Washington bureau of the New York Times.
What would you consider the definition of a beat reporter today?
WYATT: When I think of a beat reporter, I think of someone who just lives, eats and breaths anything to do with the team they cover. Unless I’m on vacation or trying to take some time off, my job is to keep up with what’s going on with the Titans and to keep fans informed with what’s going on with the team. It used to be just doing that through the newspaper and writing stories, now its 24/7 on Twitter, writing blogs for the website and shooting video.
KUHARSKY: Well, I’m not it. [ESPN] calls us team reporters as they have 32 people in these roles, so I’m ESPN.com’s Titan’s reporter but I’m not a beat reporter in the sense that I’m chasing everything and trying to be first on everything. Jim Wyatt is a very good friend of mine and as good a beat reporter in the NFL as there is in the country.
In your time in the industry – How has the job evolved, especially with the introduction of social media into everyday reporting now? Do you see that as a positive?
WYATT: It is a completely different animal than it used to be. The biggest thing that’s changed is obviously just the 24/7 aspect of it. Everything is immediate. You spend most your day writing for the web and with Twitter, which is 24/7; you can never relax to be honest with you.
KUHARSKY: More so than ever it is constant. You could have a great scoop and it could last no time. Everything is incremental. It’s one of the unfortunate things about the pace of “news” now, but there is no putting it back in the box.
When did you realize just how much Twitter was going to change how sports were reported?
WYATT: I remember when the paper went to turning the focus to online and that was an adjustment, then I remember first hearing about Twitter and getting an account around 2009. You’ve got to pay attention and get news up on Twitter as fast as you can.
KUHARSKY: I think it was pretty early. I was in relatively early, ESPN was in relatively early, but there was no point or a certain story that showed me.
How much pressure do you feel on a daily basis to break news or be the first to report it?
WYATT: I think certainly you try to do your best to break news as much as possible. You can’t break everything but I am certainly realistic in knowing the world is completely different than the way it used to be.
KUHARSKY: You were expected to break news and it was a big deal if someone else broke news on your beat. A guy like Jim [Wyatt] probably doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves for being the guy through which 95% of Titans news comes out.
What is the biggest misconception about being a daily beat reporter?
WYATT: That it’s all fun and games. People hear that you cover the Titans and they think you get to go on road trips, go to the Super Bowl and you get to watch practice all the time. It is also a lot of work and there really is no offseason.
KUHARSKY: That you are buddies with the people you cover is a big misconception. I think most of the guys I have long term relationships with, I have professional relationships with.
What is your favorite or most satisfying part of your job?
WYATT: I’ve covered the Titans for 15 years now and I’ve just enjoyed meeting people. The players, the coaches, front office people, just a lot of really good people and having a lot of really good stories to tell as a result.
KUHARSKY: It’s hard not to say feedback. Hearing from people on Twitter or who call in and say they enjoyed reading something, or learned from reading something.
What is the most frustrating part of the job?
WYATT: Probably the time that goes into it. It’s really time consuming being 24/7, you can’t ever really take a break unless you’re on vacation.
KUHARSKY: Right now I’d say it’s the Twitter thing, where people can’t even click on the link. Dealing with people who just don’t understand what you do or why you do it.
Is there another team, in any sport, that you would like to cover on a full time basis?
WYATT: It is hard to say, working for the Tennessean I’m on the beat people pay the most attention to which is good and bad. I think I’ve got the dream job.
KUHARSKY: I’m beyond that. I’d love to cover the US National soccer team. The NFL is the best thing to cover with the one game per week.