Uncommon Advice to Advance Your Sportscasting Career
Practical perspective on what actually helps sportscasters stand out, get hired, and keep moving forward.
Why I wrote this book
After years of conversations inside STAA, through emails, calls, and critiques, I realized something.
The answers that were helping sportscasters move forward were living in private conversations.
They shouldn’t have been.
If legacy is measured in lives touched, then the right thing to do was to put those lessons in one place where they would always be available to anyone serious about advancing.
This book isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about the small, often overlooked decisions that compound over time and the mindset that keeps people moving forward when others stall.
If it helps you move up, it will have done its job.
— Jon Chelesnik
Who this book is for
- Sportscasters early in their careers who want clarity and direction
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Working professionals who feel stalled or unsure what to adjust next
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Broadcasters who value preparation, patience, and long-term growth
Who it’s not for
- Anyone looking for shortcuts, hacks, or guarantees
From the industry
“Coming up, I tried to do everything I could to study the industry and learn the craft, and the best place to do that was always STAA. Jon has taken so much of what I pulled from and created a book that every sportscaster must have. I just wish he had written this 15 years ago.”
— Joe Davis
FOX Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers
“When I decided I wanted to be a sports broadcaster, I dove in head first—but had no idea where to start or what to aim for. Jon Chelesnik gave me the guardrails and the goals. He helped me find direction. Thanks to him, I learned how to swim in a straight line instead of in circles.”
— Carlo Jiménez
Los Angeles Clippers
“I found myself nodding several times, thinking, ‘So true…that aligns exactly with my experience in broadcasting.’ Jon’s advice & expertise are a big reason I landed my first job out of college, setting me on my path to call games on national TV. This book will help everyone in the industry, from those just getting started to those who have spent decades in the business.”
— Connor Onion
ESPN
“This book is not only a guide to get started and continue to thrive in the sportscasting industry, but also includes relevant stories, funny analogies, and relatable situations that can make you better in any professional environment. No surprise, coming from someone who has made a career out of helping others improve themselves, including me.”
— Chris Lewis
CBS Sports
Available in paperback and Kindle.