Grace Selesky



Projects by Grace Selesky

News Story

NIL Decision Could Present Women With Unequal Opportunity to Benefit

  • By Grace Selesky, Zachary Thompson, Nick Milentis

BLOOMIINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024) –Breathing in the cold air, heart racing, game face on with a stick in hand, ready to break the tie and make the last shot on goal. The roars of the exciting game can be heard from outside the energized stadium. Sophia Hoover tightens up her grip holding her hockey stick, and makes a move. Her nerves are piercing through her body, as she attempts to beat the clock with fifteen seconds remaining. She makes her way toward the net with the help of her teammates, and goes for the shot. 

Sophia Hoover sets up for her shot, wearing her Griffins jersey from her last highschool club season. Hoover was an all around player on the team, giving her attention on social media and colleges.

 

A brief silence breaks throughout the entire arena as the buzzer blares, awaiting to see if Hoover’s shot was a success. The entire crowd and team jump to their feet, erupting in celebration for the team, they celebrate Hoover’s shot, breaking the tie for the game.  After the game, Hoover took to social media to celebrate her team’s big win. As a current freshman at St. Catherine’s University, she has seen how social media plays a big role with athletes Name, Image, and likeness deals and profits. “For me as a woman in a collegiate sport the main difference between men and women’s sports isn’t competition or skill, it’s the way we get treated outside the game. In today’s society we solely run our lives through social media”, said Hoover. She is not someone who currently receives profit off of her sport, Hoover knows a lot about the gender gap that is currently at place with men and women’s sports. “Women’s sports get little to no recognition for the work in the game, therefore, no matter the results no one knows. You will see numerous accounts and posts catering to men’s sports giving them all the focus win or lose”, Hoover said. 

Name, Image, Likeness, more famously known as NIL, grants high school and college athlete the opportunity and rights to be able to profit off of their own personal image. NIL allows these athletes to be able to profit off of endorsement deals, merchandising sales, advertisements, and social media sponsorships and partnerships. Although Hoover is not part of the percentage that gains profit from NIL deals yet in her career, she sees how big of an impact it has made on other athletes, changing the way we view athletes today than ever before, with most of this attention coming from social media.

Social media has also played a huge role in the likeness of athletes and different sports getting recognized more easily on a daily basis. This can be a breaking point for many athletes of today, as keeping up with their social media can be tremendously beneficial for their image as an athlete. The media is a simple and quick way of finding your favorite player on the team on social media to keep updated with them and their sport. This seems like a factor that would make the gender gap more equal, but with the more renown men’s sports having more viewership, the reality of this is going to put these sports at an advantage for their personal NIL.

NIL has also recently began to be taught in high schools and colleges. With the way the media and society is changing, it has become a vital part to teaching and learning today. Recently, Dr. Galen Clavio spoke to a Story Lab 1 class and discussed his thoughts about NIL. As we know, college sports are becoming more popular as they are publicized, and using the athletes image to help promote the school gives the opportunity to reach larger demographics and a wider audience. Dr. Clavio, along with his many other roles here, is a Sports Media Professor, and has seen and heard an immense amount of different NIL deals, including with the gender gap. Even with the most popular women’s sports, they are still not even with the men’s version of the same sport. Clavio said, “There is clearly a ground swell of spectator interest in women’s sports from where we were 10 years ago, even 5 years ago. I think that was probably always going to occur as media became more decentralized.” Media is growing everyday, and although the gender gap has gotten better, we sometimes do not even realize how most of us view men’s sports publicity more than women’s.

Dr. Clavio, points to a student eagerly waiting to get their questions answered during his lecture at Indiana University. Clavio has worked at Indiana University for over fifteen years.
Clavio video clip: 17:45 – 20:21

 

Indiana University Athletics have recently gotten a much wider audience as of this year, with the football team currently being undefeated. This has led to leaving the other fall sports being left in the dark, even the other men’s sports. Jose Torres, a player on the school’s rugby team, has not gotten much recognition as deserved. Torres knows and understands the gap, even being in a men’s sport. “It all ties into that intensity factor. I’m sure football athletes are paid higher here than basketball athletes and it’s just because they bring more heads to the stadium,” Torres said. Although Torres understands fully why the football team has such a big audience currently, he wishes the other sports, that could be doing just as well, could be seen in such a spotlight, compared to the other men’s and especially women’s sports.

Jose Torres pauses during his warm up to reflect, and say a quick prayer before his game. Jose got a full ride scholarship to play for the Indiana University Rugby team.
Jose Torres Interview

 

Social media has had the biggest impact on athletes and sports as we know today, the use of social media has increased their athletic accomplishments. Although this helps many athletes every year, the gender gap still involved within this leaves women’s sports in the shadow a lot of the time. NIL deals are much more than just a brand deal, they bring a whole new image to athletes and their career.

We went to the streets of the bloomington campus to get the opinions people have about the new NIL decision. We asked specifically to these people how they felt about the new NIL decision and how the new court ruling could present women with unequal opportunity to benefit from NIL

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Public Relations Story

Apple unveils the release of new product- The Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contracts
Sydney Jordan
Peyton Cripe
Grace Selesky

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) – Tim Cook, famously known as the CEO of Apple, unveiled the release of the groundbreaking new product, the Apple Watch on Tuesday, in Cupertino California.

In Southern California, Apple hosted their annual product release convention where they surprised the audience by not only launching a new IPhone, but also launching the first generation Apple Watch as well. A standing ovation arose when Cook unveiled the watch by coming on stage wearing the new product after a high tech presentation. Looking proud of his accomplishment, Cook continued to explain the Apple Watch’s capabilities and new features, never seen in a smart watch before.

This new product is presented as a more portable and versatile version of a smart phone, its advantage being it’s right on your wrist. Cook touched on the Apple Watch’s phone-like capabilities, such as phone calling, texting, fitness tracking, and customizable appearance. The Apple Watch allows customers to now keep track of their steps and make fitness goals, making for more accurate data than an Iphone would provide. Customers can also customize their watches to their own liking and taste. These Apple Watches have a removable watch band making for even more options on how to make this product your own and more personalized.

Woman wearing new Apple Watch as she works out in the gym
Personal Fitness and Wellness instructor, Rachel Miller, uses her Apple Watch on a daily basis to measure her heart rate, track steps, and monitor her workouts.

Not only this, but Apple has developed a smaller watch band to fit all possible wrist sizes. The most emphasized feature in this presentation, however, is the brand new user interface Apple introduced. They have now added more functionality to the dial or ‘digital crown’ on the side of the watch to be able to zoom in and out on photos, scroll through messages or lists, and to return the user back to the home page when pressed. It also is equipped with software that senses when you raise your arm and turns on the watch. All of these unique features add to the excitement of the upcoming release of the watch.

Cook not only spoke on the watch’s functions but also the wearability and comfortability as well. “Now, Apple Watch is made to be worn, and it can be worn all day, for any occasion. It’s as much about personal technology as it is about style and taste.” Cook said during the release event. Apple emphasized and encouraged their users to not only wear their watch for any event they may have, but also to personalize every aspect of it.

Young girl in the library shown wearing her watch on a daily basis
Student Aisling Zarate wears her Apple Watch to keep track of time for her classes throughout the day. Zarate has reminders set to stay organized without depending on her phone.

Much like an IPhone, you can change the lockscreen of the Apple Watch and even switch it to a live wallpaper, exhibiting movement and one’s own personal taste. Cook continued to exhibit a multitude of different watch band styles and designs so that everyone can find one in their own style. Apple continued to display this new device by having Cook wear it for his entire presentation. They also displayed multiple photos and videos on the screen of people going about their lives with their watch on. There was everything from users working out, to playing with their children, showcasing the function diversity that it can provide.

The first generation Apple Watch will be released in early 2015, with expectations of high demand for the new smart product. They will be sold in Apple stores around the country and in select countries around the globe. The starting price for this new piece of technology begins at only $349. Cook closed his presentation by exclaiming his excitement and his thoughts on this new device. “It is something functional yet incredibly beautiful. It empowers people and enriches their lives. Apple watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.” Cook said as his final closing statement. Excitement only seemed to grow as the event concluded, leaving audience members to wait in anticipation for the upcoming release of the Apple Watch.

The newest Apple Product, The Apple Watch, presents its seamless design and aesthetic looking features. This watch will be available next spring and from the crowds reaction it’s in high demand.

Cook shows the audience the newest feature called “digital touch” allowing customers to feel more connected with those in their contact lists. He demonstrates connecting with Jeff Bezos and places importance on how this is an Apple Watch exclusive feature.

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