by Alli Lorensen
Callahan sees potential in his two current student interns, Matt Reynoldson, a senior majoring in sports broadcasting, and David Eickholt, a senior double majoring in broadcasting and journalism.
“They’ve been really humble and eager to learn,” Callahan said. “They’re both very talented in their own ways, but nobody is the finished product.”
As Sean Callahan prepared for graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December of 2003, he made a decision that would become the center of his professional career.
With a few job options on the table, including an offer from ESPN to work as a production assistant at the height of “SportsCenter,” Callahan ultimately accepted a staff writer position for the Nebraska division of Rivals.com, also known as HuskerOnline.
However, Callahan, who is now the site’s publisher, was not a stranger to HuskerOnline when he was offered a job. He worked for it for four years throughout college, as well as working for The Daily Nebraskan, KRNU and 1620 The Zone. Callahan also interned at ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and Recruits Unlimited.
Callahan said it’s essential for students to get involved and find internships if they want to succeed.
“You have to be involved in order to have opportunities come your way,” he said.
To help current UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications students have the same opportunities he did, Callahan hires student interns and provides hands-on, paid experience in sports journalism.
“We send them to basketball, send them to football, we do baseball, they travelled with us on some road trips,” Callahan said. “I know I’m biased, but I believe it is the premier sports internship you can get right now at Nebraska if you’re a sports student.”
He also sees bits of his former self shining through Reynoldson and Eickholt in their hunger and excitement.
“Sometimes they’ll do things that will drive you nuts every once in a while and I’ll say to myself, ‘You know what, though, I was just like that,’” Callahan said.
Reynoldson said he is grateful for the relationship he has developed with Callahan and the professional skills he has learned from his mentor.
While Reynoldson and Eickholt have enjoyed their time interning under Callahan’s wing at HuskerOnline, this is their last semester. In March or April, Callahan looks to hire new interns, preferably from the CoJMC.
“I want people that have a passion, that really care about what they’re doing, where this is important to them,” Callahan said.
