Aiden Brueck

We will be there

Looking for a @Seahawks tailgate at Northwest Stadium this morning. Worth a shot to ask twitter? #Seahawks #12s @BandoKnowsBall

Betsy you know better than to interrupt my football @wkyc

Some of the discourse I’ve seen surrounding young people in sports media has been straight-up disrespectful to the work so many of us put in.

I completely understand that there are issues. Sidelines are becoming crowded, some people do not understand proper etiquette and others care more about building their own brand than covering the athletes. That behavior needs to be addressed. Owning a camera and having an Instagram account does not automatically make someone a professional.

I’ve had to address someone representing our platform who interacted disrespectfully with fans. I handled it internally, reinforced our expectations and moved forward. There is no room in sports for people who disrespect fans, athletes, schools or the opportunity they have been given.

But individual situations should not be used to tear down an entire generation of young creators.

During my junior year of high school, I was taken off the call for my school’s basketball team. I could have accepted that and stopped pursuing sports media. Instead, I found an independent media network, created my own opportunity and continued broadcasting games while highlighting athletes who deserved recognition.

That opportunity helped make me who I am today.

Now that I have a platform of my own, one of my biggest goals is using it to create those same opportunities for other people in my generation. I want young broadcasters, photographers, videographers and graphic designers to have a place where they can learn, make mistakes, improve and build something real.

Nobody enters this industry already knowing everything. Someone has to believe in you before your résumé gives them a reason to.

That is why I have so much respect for @PopperUSAToday, @bogdog44 and @FederalLeagueOH for their continued support of younger people in sports media. People who are already established have the ability to either guard the door or hold it open. Their willingness to encourage the next generation, recognize our work and give young people legitimate opportunities means more than they probably realize.

Schools have every right to create standards. Require training. Conduct background checks. Establish clear credentialing rules. Remove people who act irresponsibly. Protect the athletes and keep the sidelines safe.

But automatically turning away freelancers and younger creators is not the answer. When you do that, you are also turning away coverage, exposure and storytelling for your athletes. Local sports need more people who genuinely care about telling these stories—not fewer.

Young creators do not need unlimited access or special treatment. We need a fair opportunity to prove that we belong.

Hold us accountable. Teach us how to improve. Remove the people who refuse to act professionally. But do not disrespect the work of an entire generation because of the actions of a few.

You cannot say you want more attention on your athletes while shutting out the young people willing to give it to them.

SIDs in high school who says no