UM Mourns the Loss of Alumnus Oscar Pope, NBA on TNT Marketing Manager

The University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media mourns the loss of alumnus Oscar Pope, whose newest position was as the advertising supervisor for the Turner Sports present NBA on TNT and NBA TV.

Pope, a local of Terry, Mississippi, started his four-year journey at the University of Mississippi as an artwork main with an emphasis in graphic design. He additionally double-majored in broadcast journalism. He turned a manufacturing supervisor for Rebel Radio, a information anchor for NewsWatch in the pupil media middle and the visible editor of The Daily Mississippian.

According to an alumni profile, Pope accepted a place as an promoting coordinator at a sports activities publishing agency in Atlanta after commencement. He later joined the Atlanta-based startup Scoutmob as an promoting government for 4 years earlier than touchdown at Creative Loafing Atlanta as a multimedia advertising specialist.

His profession path finally led to Turner Broadcasting as content material advertising coordinator of the NBA on TNT and NBA TV at Turner Sports. He dealt with consumer-facing inventive messaging and branding for each networks along with NBA.com.

MacKenzie Ross, who served as the editor and inventive director for the newest version of the UM School of Journalism and New Media’s student-produced version of The Review journal, labored with Pope to incorporate details about him and his profession in the publication.

The following is a Q & A with Pope that she compiled.

Oscar Pope. Image supplied.

Q & A With Oscar Pope

By MacKenzie Ross

Q. How has your training from Ole Miss helped you get to the place you’re at present?

A. I double-majored in graphic design and broadcast journalism, so my days at Ole Miss look loads like they do now and are simply as multidisciplinary. What was working from a three-hour design studio class to shoot a information bundle for my JOUR 480: Advanced Broadcast Reporting class is now working from inventive briefings to manufacturing & program conferences. The training and wide selection of expertise I acquired at Ole Miss ready to me to put on many hats, with out hesitation, concurrently and successfully.

Q. Can you give me a quick description of your job duties?

A. I handle all consumer-facing inventive, messaging and branding for NBA on TNT, NBA TV and Turner Sports podcasts. My staff is liable for driving viewership of stay video games, unique programming and key NBA tentpoles, together with NBA Tip-Off, NBA All-Star and the NBA Playoffs throughout each networks. My staff can also be liable for constructing and executing go-to-market content material and inventive methods.

Q. What is a favourite reminiscence out of your time in your present job?

A. There are so many favorites, and plenty of embrace our “Inside the NBA” crew, however the recollections that imply the most are the ones the place we’ve been in a position to inform purposeful tales at the intersections of sport, group and tradition. My favourite must be writing ‘Dear Chicago’ for NBA-All Star 2020.

The NBA was making its first All-Star return to Chicago since 1988, so I discovered it crucial that we redefine how the world seen Chicago. ‘Dear Chicago’ was written and produced in partnership with Bleacher Report as a three-part vignette collection – highlighting the convergence of basketball and group and telling the tales of the individuals, the locations and tradition that outline Chicago.

Through this collection, we have been in a position to give basketball followers a possibility to expertise what makes Chicago a beacon of tradition and never outlined by adverse headlines, however somewhat a wealthy quilt of neighborhoods, every with its personal identification and native heroes – athletes which have transcended sport and artists that create with a homegrown objective. The complete collection is offered at dearchicagotnt.com

Q. Is there a professor who made an affect on them as a pupil? What is their title and why/how?

A. There have been many professors who had a profound affect on me as a pupil and past. You’d be hard-pressed to search out higher design professors than Ginny Chavis and Paula Temple. Marvin Williams and Garreth Blackwell have been crucial in my development at the J-school.

The two professors that made the greatest impacts on me have been Nancy Dupont and Laura Antonow. Dr. Dupont taught with such a ardour for broadcasting, and it was completely infectious. After my first course together with her, I knew I needed to be in or round the broadcast trade in some capability.

I consider I took a minimum of 4 programs with Professor Antonow, and I might’ve taken extra if potential. She had an vitality that was palpable and her programs have been open boards of dialogue and engagement which significantly contributed to my tutorial and private evolution.

Courtesy of the UM School of Journalism and New Media