Penn State students to provide on-site coverage of Women’s World Cup

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When the Women’s World Cup starts next week, a talented team of Penn State students and faculty will be on site covering the international tournament as part of a partnership with The Associated Press

Nine students, accompanied by five faculty members, will provide coverage of the 32-team tournament from several locations in New Zealand throughout the first round.

“The opportunity to cover a sporting event that gets worldwide attention is a major thrill and challenge for our students,” said John Affleck, the head of the Department of Journalism at Penn State and director of the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism. “We’re excited to get started.”

Affleck will be in Auckland, New Zealand, with John Pendygraft, an assistant teaching professor of journalism, and three students — Zach Allen, Rafaela Sampaio Pontes and Max Ralph. Affleck is leading the partnership project with The Associated Press and Pendygraft is serving as the photo editor.

“I’m most looking forward to the environment. Major international sporting events always draw some of the most intense, passionate and spirited fans,” Ralph said. “I can’t wait to feel that energy in the stadium and around the country and try to share that through our coverage.”

Other traveling groups include:

• Marie Hardin, dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, with Juan Mendez and Luke Vargas in Hamilton, New Zealand;
• Steve Kraycik, an associate teaching professor of journalism, with Matthew Gelhard and Ellen McIntyre in Dunedin, New Zealand; and
• Maggie Messitt, the Norman Eberly Professor of Practice of Journalism, with Alyssa Rubin and Joe Lister in Wellington, New Zealand.

Affleck and Curley Center have partnered with The Associated Press and Pennsylvania media outlets previously for coverage of the Paralympics, and annual assignments at the Little League World Series and Super Bowl. The Women’s World Cup project represents the most ambitious partnership of its kind.

“Part of what makes the Curley Center a great place to learn both the craft of sports journalism and the importance of sports in culture is events like this one,” Affleck said. “It’s hard to imagine a more exciting opportunity.”

None of the students have traveled to New Zealand before, although several of them have traveled extensively. For example, Ralph spent the first part of his summer completing a study abroad opportunity in Japan, Vargas studied abroad in Spain during the spring and Lister and McIntyre have visited four and more than a half dozen countries, respectively.

“This is different,” McIntyre said. “We’re there to work and it’s a big responsibility. It’s a little daunting, but it’s also exciting.”

The traveling team has been preparing for several months for the project and brings a strong mix of journalism skills to the assignment. They’ll be responsible for writing stories, providing photos and for some multimedia and social media and video content.

Late July and August are winter in the Southern Hemisphere, with the average temperature in those months ranging between 53 and 61 degrees. Even students who have never traveled outside the United States before are excited about what’s ahead.

“We just have a great team for this,” Rubin said. “We’re prepared and ready. The Curley Center has done some great projects in the past and I think this is going to be the best one ever.”

Women’s World Cup tournament play begins July 20 and continues until the final match Aug. 20. The Penn State team will be on site from July 16 until Aug. 4 before returning to the United State so student can begin fall semester classes Aug. 21.

The Curley Center, housed in the Bellisario College, is the nation's oldest academic entity of its kind in higher education. It celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023.