Joshua Vorensky is a feature producer for premier sports network ESPN®, where he has worked for over 13 years. He oversees a team of camera operators, editors, reporters, and lighting technicians who create interstitial videos that air on TV programs such as SC Featured, Sunday NFL Countdown, and Outside the Lines. Vorensky's work has him traveling across the United States and internationally to cover compelling sports-related human interest stories in both professional and amateur sports.
During the course of his career, Vorensky has been nominated for four individual Emmy® Awards, the coveted annual prize bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in television, and he has received four Emmys as part of a producing team.
Vorensky's nominated videos evince the poignant subject matter he gravitates toward as a producer. The video "17 Hours: Chris Nikic's Ironman Story" (2021), for example, follows the first-ever contestant with Down syndrome to complete the grueling Ironman Triathlon. "Hey Noah" (2021) recounts the gripping story of a 9-year-old football fan whose darkest hours are brightened by the support of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Achieve3000 Literacy interviewed Vorensky to gain more insight into the responsibilities of his job, his educational background, and the road that led him to his position with ESPN.
"In my role as a feature producer," Vorensky said, "I create short pieces—think of them as mini-documentaries—that range in length from two minutes to about ten minutes. I'm involved in every aspect of their creation, including coming up with story ideas, organizing video shoots, editing footage, and writing voice-over scripts. Some pieces might be little more than a sit-down interview. Some are expansive—they have a fuller story to tell—and make for a more complicated shoot."
Vorensky went on to describe the logistics of creating more involved videos. "Some stories require shoots in multiple locations and may need scenics, which are shots of exteriors, like buildings or cornfields. Sometimes, I may have to hire a drone operator to film aerial shots, like a panoramic view of Sacramento, California, which I needed for a recent video. I may also have to film B-roll footage, which is supplementary shots that enhance a video or provide continuity, like an athlete driving to the stadium or signing autographs. Videos with fuller storylines can take weeks or even months to make, and I often have to hire additional camera operators and technicians."
What comes next, after everything has been filmed? "My team and I edit the footage and sequence the pieces until we have a seamless, cohesive video. We do this by computer, using film-editing software. I also help write the voice-over script, which serves as the connective tissue for the video, and, on occasion, I hire a composer to create a musical score."
The trajectory of Vorensky's career path has been a straight line from early on. "I was always into creating television and telling stories, and I started in high school, volunteering at my local TV station. I went to the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, where I majored in television production. I worked at our college TV station, covering football, and I was fortunate enough to intern with NBC Sports® at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Ithaca College has a Los Angeles program that led to an internship at MTV®, and I also interned at my local PBS® station in New Jersey."
What advice does Vorensky have for a young person interested in a career as a TV sports producer? "Get as much experience as possible. One of the reasons I'm in this position is because I signed for as many internships as possible. I also encourage you to watch different productions and pieces that edify and inspire."
Think about and discuss these questions:
What evidence from the article supports the idea that internships can be beneficial to a person's career?
What do you think would be the most enjoyable part of producing TV programs? Why?
QUESTION 7
7 / 8
According to the article, which of these happened last?
Joshua Vorensky covered the Winter Olympics during an internship.
Joshua Vorensky worked at a college TV station covering football.
Joshua Vorensky was nominated for four Emmy Awards.
Joshua Vorensky interned at a TV station in Los Angeles.
1 answer
To answer the question about what happened last:
Joshua Vorensky covered the Winter Olympics during an internship.
Joshua Vorensky worked at a college TV station covering football.
Joshua Vorensky was nominated for four Emmy Awards.
Joshua Vorensky interned at a TV station in Los Angeles.
The correct answer is "Joshua Vorensky was nominated for four Emmy Awards." Based on the information provided in the article, the order of events suggests that his internships and college experiences occurred before his professional achievements, such as receiving Emmy nominations.
