Qumar Zaman
Qumar Zaman is a senior Broadcast Journalism Major who spent this past
summer in what many would call a "dream internship," as play-by-play
announcer for the Schaumburg Flyers baseball team. The Flyers is a
northern league professional baseball team based in Schaumburg,
Illinois. They play over 90 games per season, including a substantial
number outside the United States. At the conclusion of the season,
Qumar was able to sit down, catch a breath, and tell us a bit about his
exploits this summer.1. This past summer you had the unique opportunity of having a play-by-play job with the Schaumburg Flyers. What were your first thoughts when you were told about the internship?
It was a very unique opportunity. I was quite astonished when I found out about it. At that time, I had a very tough decision to make, because I had a job as an usher for the Chicago Cubs. I had that job since the 2003 season, and I loved it a lot. But, this was an opportunity I could not pass up. After mulling it over for a little while, I went full throttle for this internship.
2. Can you describe the feeling of sitting down that first day of the gig and realizing you were going to be heard by fans across the nation?
Well, for me the feeling wasn't "Wow, I'm gonna be heard all over the nation". The main concern for me was to get the broadcast going. There was not a lot of time in between my hiring and the first game of the season. It was a big load to get the game ready, and I wanted to get on the air and let the game flow. I don't think it really struck me that much that I was going to be heard by so many people. I just wanted to get through that first game and worry about the jitters at a later time.
3. This internship was a major time commitment and also required travel outside of Illinois for away games. Did being on the road with the team help develop closer relationships with the players and coaches?
Not only did we travel outside of just Illinois, but we traveled outside the country. The Flyers play in the independent Northern League. In that league, there are 3 teams in Canada. So, I had to hurry to get my passport, and that was a very cumbersome thing to get. I thought this was the thing I learned the most about: the travel. I had to pack from as short as 3 days to as much as 10 days on certain trips. I think I spent the most time worrying about that sort of thing.
4. Before obtaining this internship you spent one semester at WSCR. Can you describe your semester spent with, "The Score?"
I absolutely loved my time at the Score. It was such a thrill. I interned for the Mulligan & Hanley midday show on Mondays and the night programming on Thursdays. I began my internship on the day after the Chicago Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs, so I was technically thrown into the "Bear pit". I learned a lot from the producers Joe Ostrowski, who is a Columbia grad, and Ryan Sudol, as well as Jay Zawaski, Tim Bock (another Columbia grad), and many others. The two shifts were very different, and it allowed me to meet and get to know the entire staff. I did different things, such as answering phones, coming up with questions for our text message poll, cut up audio, as well as helping cut up highlights for the games broadcast at night. The nights were so different, both within the Bears' Super Bowl run and after it. Sometimes, I'd run the board for a late hour on a talk show, or cut up highlights of a Bulls, Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks, or DePaul basketball game. I loved that, being able to cut up the highlights and put it into the vault. I also had a chance to help out with a remote broadcast and the Score's NFL Draft coverage.
5. From what classes did you benefit most in regards to both internships?
I've benefitted from every class I took, especially Radio Studio Operations, Production I, Radio Broadcasting I, and getting hands-on work at WCRX.
6. As a Broadcast Journalism major, you have a great appreciation for the written word. In fact, you have had several articles published. Where does your passion for writing come from?
I think my passion of writing comes from a basic job of telling a story and for people to read it. I've been able to enhance this passion of writing and carry it over to radio. I love to write because it allows me to tell a story to someone and give them the same experiences I felt when writing it.
7. What advice would you give a high school student who is interested in sports broadcasting?
For those interested in sports broadcasting, I would suggest to get a feel as to what you want to do. If it's to be a talk show host or a reporter, focus your skills on interviewing and producing. If you want to be a play-by-play announcer, study by watching and listening to as many games as possible. Try to mold what you see and hear to how you would call those games. But, for any job in sports broadcasting, there are two essentials: practicing and networking. They go hand-in-hand. You can practice by yourself, especially if you want to do play-by-play. If you have brothers or sisters, practice interviewing them as if you were hosting a talk show or in the locker room after a game. I had a chance with my job working at Wrigley Field to get my face and name out to the working media. I was able to build relationships with writers, reporters, and broadcasters. I was able to see what they did and learn little by little. If you have a favorite announcer, broadcaster, reporter, etc., then try to contact them. Get their thoughts and possibly some tips on what you should do.
8. With two great internships under your belt, experience at the school station WCRX, and a glowing writing background, what are your immediate career goals after graduating from Columbia?
Well, play-by-play announcing is my passion. I have to sort through the 96 games that I did and make a baseball aircheck. I also did some UIC basketball games on WCRX, and would like to make a separate basketball play-by-play aircheck. I just want to get a job doing play-by-play, hopefully as close to the Chicago area as possible, after I graduate in the spring. My ultimate goal is to be the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs. I believe that with my work achieved here at Columbia, that I am on my way to that goal.