Michael Cohen and Michael Weisman, two Queens College alumni, are collaborating to provide opportunities for students entering into the sports broadcasting field.
After speaking at QC as a guest in October, Cohen thought it would be a great idea to bring back his experiences working in the sports broadcast field to the classroom.
Cohen and Weisman will instruct the Media Studies 281 class titled Sports Broadcasting for the upcoming spring semester on Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. in Campbell Dome 134.
“Queens College is finally getting in the growing, emerging and existing business of sports broadcasting. This is the first time they have done anything in the field,” Weisman said.
Cohen highlighted several topics the course will entail including the history of sports broadcasting, discussion of current events, how to produce live and studio events, women in broadcasting and various roles in the business.
“The purpose of the class is to give an introduction of the sports broadcasting world. We want to give the students an education on the field and expose them to as many people and topics as possible,” Cohen said.
The course will also consist of various guest speakers including, as Cohen noted, “some of the top people working in the television sports business today.”
The decision to teach the course is a result of Cohen and Weisman’s desire to give back to the college despite their busy schedules.
“We feel that we are really lucky to do some of the biggest shows on television and work with some of the most interesting people,” Cohen said. “We just wanted bring back to the college that we attended our experiences and educate the students about a fascinating field.”
Besides his role as president of Bizzy Signal Entertainment, Cohen works for multiple networks, and works on creating new sports shows.
“Michael is still very active in business, but he’s very modest. He is giving up a lot to do this teaching because he’s still has many active projects going on,” Weisman said.
Weisman, who won 22 Emmy awards, was excited to make the class as he is less active in business.
“Although I’m ‘living the dream’ as they like to say, traveling and enjoying my wife, kids and grandkids, I have the time and, frankly, the energy now to be able to do something like this that I may not had in the past,” Weisman said.
Although Cohen and Weisman are not professional teachers, their experiences and skills as producers may transfer well into the course.
“One of the things you have to do when you’re producing is take on a leadership role and be able to communicate and inspire. That’s part of what we think teaching is about,” Weisman said.
The course is just the beginning in the Media Studies program as it expands to the sports broadcasting field.
“It is great and it is time Queens College got into this. We are thrilled to be the pioneers in college’s entry into the field,” Cohen said.
