Journalism-Sports Production senior lands Charles Barkley Talent Relations Internship

Charlotte Tuggle | 7/29/2024

Auburn University senior Joleigh Cavanagh is working with sports stars this summer through the Charles Barkley Talent Relations Internship at TNT Sports.

Earlier this year, Cavanagh struggled to land an internship that felt like the right fit. She didn't give up until she was one of less than 1% of applicants who received an internship at TNT Sports.

"Keep putting in the work, and something will happen eventually because everything happens for a reason," Cavanagh said. "The experience, the skills that I've been taught have been amazing, and I couldn't imagine interning anywhere else or doing anything else."

TNT Sports, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, delivers multimedia programming for the NBA, MLB, NHL and more. Cavanagh's internship responsibilities include working on set, coordinating on-air talent and researching new broadcast properties that TNT recently acquired.

Every Tuesday, she participates in production meetings and helps manage on-air talent for MLB on TBS, including analysts Pedro Martinez, Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins, and hosts Lauren Shehadi and Greg Amsinger. She's also worked with guest analysts David Justice and Dusty Baker.

Beyond day-to-day responsibilities, Cavanagh said the work has pushed her out of her comfort zone and connected her with other professionals in the field.

"Everyone is willing to help you. If you have a question, you go to them, and everyone is willing to meet with you to tell you more about their job," Cavanagh said. "I've been able to meet with producers and everyone from different categories at Warner Brothers, and it reminds me of the Auburn Family in a workplace, the same family atmosphere. I'm getting the most out of my experience, exploring such a great company."

This fall, Cavanagh will start her senior year and second year as a sports producer for Eagle Eye TV, Auburn's student-run television station. She helps produce the weekly sports show, interviewed Auburn men's basketball Head Coach Bruce Pearl and has covered events such as the Auburn basketball team's 2023 Legends Classic win.

That real-world experience through Eagle Eye TV, the relationships she's built with her professors and the quality of her sports production classes all prepared Cavanagh to cover the NBA, MLB and NHL seasons at her internship.

Cavanagh said she looks forward to applying everything she's learned at TNT Sports to the opportunities available at Auburn.

"It's the Auburn Family that makes Auburn such a great sports school," Cavanagh said. "There are so many opportunities for you to get involved and it's just up to you to put the work in. The combination of high-level sports and the people within sports making a difference really makes Auburn a great school to study sports, so I can't speak highly enough about the sports production program."

Learn more about the Journalism-Sports Production program.

Tags: Communication and Journalism Students