NSC Alumna Joins Fox Sports North Broadcast Team

When UCF Radio-Television, Broadcast Journalism alumna, Audra Martin, ’08, first learned she had landed her great new role with Fox Sports North, she had some people to call with the news. But she says the call to Tim Brown, Ph.D., her Radio-Television professor at the Nicholson School of Communication (NSC), came second only to the one she made to her parents. “I just knew he would get a kick out of it,” she laughed.

“I just can’t say enough about my education and the professors at the Nicholson School,” Martin offered. “It was huge. And, that is the honest truth.” She then described how the R-TV program at NSC gave her the skill set, hands-on experience, advice, guidance and thorough preparation she would need for most any situation encountered, in order to excel on her career path.

In her new role as sideline reporter and host with the regional Fox network, Martin will cover primarily the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and MLB’s Minnesota Twins. Introduced to Fox viewers Oct. 18, Martin made her “Wild Live” hockey hosting debut the following Sunday.

The Fox Sports website article welcoming her explains, “Martin moves to the Twin Cities from Nashville, where she worked as a sports anchor and reporter at WKRN and sideline reporter for the Tennessee Titans. Prior to that role, she served as sports anchor/reporter at WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama and as a sideline reporter for the Atlanta Thrashers. Martin also spent time working within the Atlanta Braves organization.”

Among her other bragging rights, Martin was Miss University of Central Florida 2008, and while living in Florida she helped pass “Jeff’s Law,” a state law combatting online bullying. In 2015, she was even nominated for “Woman of the Year” by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, giving her an opportunity to help raise money to battle blood cancer.

Martin related what impressed her most at UCF: “The professors at the Nicholson School were so very honest about expectations of what is necessary to be successful in this profession. There weren’t any surprises. I knew exactly what I was in for.” Asked which teacher influenced her most at UCF, she replied, “110 percent, Dr. Brown. I would not be here if it were not for him. He is still a major influence, and I still call him for advice,” she said. “…And George Bagley, Ph.D. as well!” she added. “From the photography standpoint, he gave the full picture. That was so helpful.”

Certain skills have been especially important working in the smaller markets, Martin said. However, even working in a city the size of Nashville, it was with the diversity and mastery of key skills she received at NSC’s Radio-TV Program that ultimately meant she could be a “one-man band” in successfully covering the story, whenever needed. “I have been so grateful for that,” she stressed.

This full skill-set learning is something she believes must be unusual in similar programs at other universities. “There were many interns I’ve worked with on the job – and, many of them were very talented, no doubt!” Martin said. “But, for example, some had never been taught to shoot photo or video. We had full classes on that at Nicholson, and not just on how to handle one type or size of camera.” Then she uttered, “…Professor Bagley! Well, you know, he is so great. He taught it all. There is such a variety of types of cameras and technology out there at networks of various sizes in various markets, and students need exposure to whatever they might work with.” She said, “I really feel that this is the type of thing that sets you apart, one hundred percent.”

As Martin was only a few weeks into her new position with Fox, we wondered if there has already been a memorable or favorite moment on the job. She replied, “Well, it was just that first moment sitting behind the desk. You see the signal, ‘30 Seconds to Air.’ Even after this many years, you still get the goose bumps, you know. You see the Fox logo on the wall in front of you and realize, Holy Cow! This is really happening! It’s crazy to me that this is my job…that I get to do this. You know, there is just nothing like a moment like that.”

Though she was still unpacking from her recent move when we called, Martin didn’t hesitate for a moment to give this interview for Nicholson’s newsletter.  We are grateful for her kind praise of the Nicholson programs, and so proud of this alumna’s recent career news!

(Click here for the Oct. 14, 2015 Fox News announcement of her joining the broadcast team. You can also follow the Fox Sports North Facebook Page for postings of Martin’s broadcasts.)

Read the original story here.