8 Questions with....

The reason most of us go to college is to get into a certain line of work.  We want a career in a particular field and usually that requires technical skills, creativity, and foundational knowledge. But it's not enough to just major in something and pass the classes, learning from people working the industry is ESSENTIAL.

Once a month,  you have chance to get inside the head of a media professional to give you a little more insight into your future career.

August 2017 - 8 Questions with Tony Boone

Brief Career synopsis:

Sports writer at the Omaha World-Herald. I cover UNO, the Omaha Storm Chasers, boxing and other sports. I previously covered sports in western Iowa, including Iowa Western. I began my career as a radio/television play-by-play broadcaster after graduating from Nebraska. I spent five years calling games before becoming a writer at the Hastings Tribune in Hastings, Neb.

1) What made you want to do this for a living?

Grew up playing sports. Always wanted to stay involved with athletics in some way.

2) As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Probably an athlete or coach. Perhaps a broadcaster.

3) What is the biggest challenge facing your industry?

Adapting to the changes in the way readers want their news. There is a demand to convert everything to online, but still thousands of folks who love to read the paper with their coffee.

4)  5 WORDS OR LESS - What is the most brutal part of your job?

"We have an early deadline."

5) 5 WORDS OR LESS - What is the best part of your job?

Sharing the story of others.

6) What is the biggest misconception about your job?

That it is fun. Yes, it's more enjoyable than many things. But it isn't easy. And it's high-stress.

7) Fill in the blank ...“The problem with newbies is they don’t know how to __________.”

1. Dedicate themselves to the work when they begin. Working in sports takes real dedication. You work long hours. And you work nights, weekends and holidays. Lots of sacrifices.

2. Write. It's a simple thing. But in all fields, communication is key. Learn how to write.

8) What industry related skill/software do you wish you knew more about?

In today's world, you have to be good with social media. I get by, but could be much better. Also, I wish I was bilingual. I cover baseball and boxing. Tons of athletes in those sports are from Latin America. The language barrier is real concern.