Meeting with Lance Barrow

Lance Barrow, producer of CBS Sports, provided a fountain of industry knowledge and an abundance of anecdotes for the attentive audience of OU journalism students last Wednesday.
His personable, southern-hospitality attitude provided a judgement-free forum for students to ask whatever they wish of the 30 year CBS veteran.
"I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to meet and hear a successful sports producer talk about his career," said Leslie Metzger, OU journalism junior and sports anchor for OU nightly.
Barrow emphasized the importance of asking questions because he did not do the same when such opportunities were made available for him in college.
"As a student, I sat in the back and didn't really engage and couldn't wait for the bell to ring or get out of the class. I think about four years of college that I really wasted," he said.
But OU students certainly did not waste their opportunity to pick his brain, as questions rapidly fired from almost everyone present.
And to each answer, Barrow stressed the importance of proper writing techniques, something he said he missed during his education and regrets not doing.
Even for sports broadcast, Barrow said writing well leads to speaking well and, ultimately, earns more respect from one's peers if one is successful in doing so.
Also, he said immersing oneself in the field through volunteering or internships will help better prepare a journalism major for employment after graduation.
This intimidated one student in the audience, Brian Pelts, who returned to OU this semester after dropping out 15 years ago.
"I already feel way behind because I'm beginning this career in my mid-thirties. After listening to him, I need to make up for my lack of experience."
This sentiment was shared by many of the audience members, their attention rapt as Barrow told his tale of how he bravely knocked on the door of the local ABC station without any invitation and asked if they needed someone to work.
"His confidence is inspiring. It's something I'd like to find in myself." said Metzger.
But Barrow waved away any inkling of an over-confident attitude with his casual Texas style and warm sense of humor.
"It's like being in the mafia," said Barrow, "It's hard to get into the business, but once you're in the business, it's hard to get out."
However, he said journalism students will have no trouble finding employment as long as they are brave enough to introduce themselves and take whatever work is given to them.
But the CBS producer will only go so far to help job-seekers.
"If the first two things you're worried about are pay and time off," he said, " then you're not working for me and you're not working for the right reasons."
Loving what you do is prudent to Barrow's mantra.
He said because he enjoys his job, he's never had to work a day in his life.
Pelts, now a Public Relations major, said Barrow's passion for work re-ignighted his passion for sports broadcasting.
Barrow has produced three superbowls and many national golf tournments.
Barrow also assisted students in developing story ideas for last Friday's sports broadcast.