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Photo credit: Jessica McBride
Notable Alumni - M.J. Baird
by Nolan McGrath
M.J. Baird, PHS class of 2015, is the Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter at KFDX-3 News and Texoma's Fox in Wichita Falls, Texas. M.J. Started off his journalism journey at Pembroke High School filming monthly videos for the school’s YouTube channel where he would interview and report on the sports teams at the school. Now a decade later M.J. is no longer recording “Man On The Street” for Pembroke High. M.J. is now reporting at the World Series for hundreds of thousands of people to see! M.J. just won Small Market Sports Reporter of the Year. Below is a question and answer interview.
Q. What was your favorite class at PHS?
A. My independent study senior year doing TitanTV News was definitely the most practical class I took in high school. It helped me learn the basics of camera production and set the foundation for my college classwork and ultimately for my sports reporting career!
Q. What was it like getting to report at the World Series?
A. Definitely a highlight of my career so far. The World Series is one of those bucket list items, and to be able to cover one so early on in my time as a sports journalist was something I’ll never forget. It was even cooler that the Texas Rangers won it all, getting to be in the thick of things for locker room celebrations and championship parades was an amazing experience.
Q. Do you enjoy doing Sports Journalism?
A. Sports journalism is my passion. There is nothing I love more than being able to talk sports for a living. Right now, I’m doing it in my own little bubble. We cover high school and college sports in small town Texas. But the skills are the same whether I’m at this level, or the national level. I love my job, and I hope to someday be able to do this same job closer to home!
Q. Where did your passion for sports journalism come from?
A. I have been involved in sports for as long as I can remember. It started with hockey, my Dad getting me on skates almost as soon as I could walk. From there, picking up baseball and golf, and growing to love everything about sports. When it became clear I wouldn’t have the talent to compete at a high level on the field/court, I wanted to find other ways to stay involved. I always had a confidence about me when it came to public speaking, so the best crossover between sports and public speaking was broadcast journalism!
Q. Do you ever miss doing Pembroke High School Man on the street?
A. “Man on the Street” was my first real intro to what it’s like to be a tv journalist. Going around, camera and microphone in hand, interviewing classmates was truly my start. Taking the footage, learning how to shoot and edit video, and then having it air in our monthly sports show which I was able to co-anchor taught me the fundamentals. I look back on those clips and cringe! (My hair was awful too). But those were some great times at PHS!!!
Click on this link to see M.J. reporting at the World Series:
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