Media Matters: Jim Callinan, Fox Sports
Peak Presenting director and workshop facilitator Melinda Smith caught up with TV and radio sports journalist and presenter - Jim Callinan.
With close to 25 years professional experience, Jim is best known as an award winning sports journalist and senior presenter on Fox Sports and Sky News.
As an anchor on both channels, Jim 'chews the fat' with a range of sporting luminaries on the big topics of the day, covers breaking stories and brings to life feature items on those who star on and off the sporting fields.
Outside of those direct roles, Jim calls NRL matches with Triple M and works with FOX Cricket on its Test and Big Bash League (BBL) coverage. Jim is also often engaged in major event work across a variety of fields and sporting codes.
Where's your journalism career taken you?
Being a ‘paper boy’ for the Muswellbrook Chronicle was my first ‘job’ in media. But it was after completing studies at CSU-Mitchell in Bathurst that my professional working life began with NBN Television in Tamworth in late 1995, before moving to the Newcastle office two years later. That’s where I landed the plum gig as the lead sports journalist and weekend presenter for more than a decade. In 2011, the lure of Sydney finally proved too much and I shifted course and have worked there ever since.
Favourite or most memorable story?
Always tough and impossible to nail down as I can still remember my first story which aired in Tamworth and the sense of pride. It’s the stories that impact whole communities, not just the athletes involved, that remain with you. The entire 2001 NRL Grand Final 'week' was an incredible example of that in Newcastle. The retirement of Andrew Johns was both intense and dramatic - and all sparked when our cameraman unwittingly captured the moment a neck injury would ultimately lead to his decision just days later.
At SKY and FOX Sports, to anchor 'rolling' coverage of huge breaking stories such as cricket's 'Sandpaper Gate' along with the death of Shane Warne and his subsequent memorial are among those I'll long remember.
What makes a good sports/news story?
Impact, significance and connection.
There's often a little more to it than that, however I find they are the bedrock to ‘good’ stories. Sometimes people need to be explained ‘why’ a story is significant – there’s a skill in that too. Empathy often leads to a strong reaction.
Your pet hate or the thing people should avoid doing when working with media?
Alerting media to a ‘significant’ event, thinking it will drag them along via a degree of suspense – and it really isn’t. Little frustrates a time and resource poor journo more than that.
Not having key talent available to talk about said story is also on the list.
Your top tip for people wanting media coverage?
Relevance. Always a great starting point – what’s the message/news, why is it important and to whom? Then target the appropriate outlets/reporters.
Your top tip to presenting well whether that be on-air or working the crowd as an emcee.
Do the little things that make you feel good and that builds confidence. From writing notes or scripting in the build up, to wearing your favourite item of clothing (within reason!).
Try your best to know the audience – again, relevance.
Use notes/script for detail, it helps keep you on track (or get back on, if you drift off!) but the best presentations come through connection. Using an experience from that day for example, early in a presentation will make it more personal for the listener and more likely for them to engage.
(Jim is A sought after event host for sporting and charity events - managed by International Speakers Group.)
How do you relax outside of work?
Like all sport journos – watch sport! Hey, the job is never done – hah. Love hanging out with my family and being as active as I can be with them.