Florida A&M University School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) alumna and FOX Sports sideline reporter Pam Oliver visited campus on Thursday to promote a Black football documentary, “Bridging Troubled Waters: Coach Jessie Heard, Football and Desegregation.”
Oliver serves as the narrator for the project and hosted a conversation on the golden age of HBCU football in the Florida Blue Auditorium in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences with Jessie Heard.
Before the event, Oliver stopped by the journalism school for a tour, a sit down with student media leaders, and a press availability for students to pick her brain about her craft.
She spoke with SJGC students about their dream jobs, pivoting in their careers, and navigating the journalism field as a Black journalist.
Ernest Walker, a graduating broadcast journalism scholar, was among the student media leaders. He said he grew up watching Oliver and is glad to be speaking with her.
“She’s really a trailblazer, a pioneer in sideline sports reporting, she’s somebody that everyone at FAMU can look up to,” Walker said.
The tenured FOX reporter was eager to answer questions during the press availability held in SJGC Convergence. Many students were prepared to meet Oliver and ask her questions about her time in the field.
Oliver dealt out personal anecdotes and inspiring advice about her journey.
“FAMU set me up for the first job that I got,” Oliver said. “I was a minority hire, I was the affirmative action hire. So, this institution set me up in the beginning to gain employment so I just never take that for granted… Just utilize all your resources while you’re here. It is so critical.”
Although the press avail with Oliver was only 30 minutes, students felt as though they had gotten a lot out of it. Having a strong alumni return to the School of Journalism has inspired many students to keep going.
Sports anchor and graduating broadcast journalism scholar SydneyCymone Bellamy said that Pam Oliver is why she decided to attend FAMU’s journalism program and expressed her excitement about meeting her in person.
“I feel amazing. I’ve never been happier, and this is just such a great opportunity, but what can I expect from J-School other than great opportunities? They always just set us up for such success,” Bellamy said.
The SJGC building did not exist when Oliver was a student, but the first floor of the SJGC building is named after Pam Oliver alongside a portrait of her for students to see.