I have spent most of my young adulthood trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. I think now after several years I finally know. But for Doug Cannon the Director of Broadcasting for the Phoenix Coyotes this came in his late teen years after he graduated high school. He discovered what he wanted to do for a career and took the media path. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Doug and getting to know more about his career path in broadcasting and why he enjoys his job so much.
Doug, a native of Toronto Canada, spent his young adult years finishing up five years of high school which consisted of four years of traditional college and the 5th year that served as a college prep year. He has three years of college which is equivalent to an Associate’s degree, which he focused on media and film. While Doug was receiving his degree in film, he learned about the basics of how a film is produced and enjoyed the behind the scenes aspect as he aspired to be a film maker. While attending college Doug got the chance to work with the campus radio station, which led him into broadcasting. Doug stated, “This is where I found my nitch I am a big audio guy.”
Working on the school radio station was a big event in Doug’s life that helped him to choose a career in broadcasting. It gave him the experience and a first look at the world of broadcasting. After college Doug worked with his father part-time, and they drove to and from work together. Doug stated “my dad was a big news talk guy.” This is another event that triggered broadcasting for Doug “I got hooked” he said. Even today Doug listens to talk radio (podcast) to and from work. With the technology we have he can pick and choose which talk shows or podcasts that he wants to listen to. “There was not one single person that influenced me to choose broadcasting as a career” Doug stated. As he stumbled into broadcasting he says, “I did have some professors that did influence me and mixture of events.”
Doug has worked for the Phoenix Coyotes since 1996 when the professional hockey team moved to valley. He worked on a free-lance basis as the Home Radio Engineer where he would engineer the team’s home games. After the 2004 lockout Doug was hired on as a full-time employee with the Coyotes and is currently in his 9th season with the club.
Doug handles everything broadcasting from TV, Radio, to anything that has to be done on the website. His main job function is to facilitate radio and television. A few seasons ago he also managed the production department, but now his main focus is broadcasting.
What doesn’t Doug do to prepare for a game day? He is probably one of the busiest guys in the office preparing for the game besides hockey operations. “A lot of the preparation is getting together with my radio talent because we have to do a lot of interviews.” Doug states. From there the radio talent gets the interviews from the players making sound bites. He then gets in touch with the TV side to see what they may need whether they are home or on the road. He helps them with anything they may need “if it is an interview or a graphic they may need.” They then send everything back to Doug for review to edit the audio for the show. He also posts the highlights from each game so that everyone has access to them, including the NHL.
Of course being a big hockey fanatic and an aspiring reporter I had to ask Doug a question I have been dying to ask. Watching the NHL Network and NHL Tonight I absolutely just love the post-game interviews with the players. I was curious to know how they pick the players and get them on the arena cam so quickly after a game. Doug shared with me that there is an arena cam installed in all 30 arenas by the NHL and, they are usually mounted in the center of the video boards. The interview is coordinated by Public Relations via e-mail or phone by each club letting the NHL know back in Toronto that XYZ player did this or ABC player did this. From there the league will usually respond back on who they would like on the arena cam for a post-game interview. Public relations will then take the player to the designated spot and place the headphones on them and then they will be connected with the league back in Toronto. Doug stated that the same thing happens with radio for post-game interviews. “There can be multiple interviews going on with different players using different mediums.”
**(Below is the video that Doug and I were discussing in the interview with Derek Morris after the Coyotes win over the Nashville Predators on 10/31/13)
Doug, a native of Toronto Canada, spent his young adult years finishing up five years of high school which consisted of four years of traditional college and the 5th year that served as a college prep year. He has three years of college which is equivalent to an Associate’s degree, which he focused on media and film. While Doug was receiving his degree in film, he learned about the basics of how a film is produced and enjoyed the behind the scenes aspect as he aspired to be a film maker. While attending college Doug got the chance to work with the campus radio station, which led him into broadcasting. Doug stated, “This is where I found my nitch I am a big audio guy.”
Working on the school radio station was a big event in Doug’s life that helped him to choose a career in broadcasting. It gave him the experience and a first look at the world of broadcasting. After college Doug worked with his father part-time, and they drove to and from work together. Doug stated “my dad was a big news talk guy.” This is another event that triggered broadcasting for Doug “I got hooked” he said. Even today Doug listens to talk radio (podcast) to and from work. With the technology we have he can pick and choose which talk shows or podcasts that he wants to listen to. “There was not one single person that influenced me to choose broadcasting as a career” Doug stated. As he stumbled into broadcasting he says, “I did have some professors that did influence me and mixture of events.”
Doug has worked for the Phoenix Coyotes since 1996 when the professional hockey team moved to valley. He worked on a free-lance basis as the Home Radio Engineer where he would engineer the team’s home games. After the 2004 lockout Doug was hired on as a full-time employee with the Coyotes and is currently in his 9th season with the club.
Doug handles everything broadcasting from TV, Radio, to anything that has to be done on the website. His main job function is to facilitate radio and television. A few seasons ago he also managed the production department, but now his main focus is broadcasting.
What doesn’t Doug do to prepare for a game day? He is probably one of the busiest guys in the office preparing for the game besides hockey operations. “A lot of the preparation is getting together with my radio talent because we have to do a lot of interviews.” Doug states. From there the radio talent gets the interviews from the players making sound bites. He then gets in touch with the TV side to see what they may need whether they are home or on the road. He helps them with anything they may need “if it is an interview or a graphic they may need.” They then send everything back to Doug for review to edit the audio for the show. He also posts the highlights from each game so that everyone has access to them, including the NHL.
Of course being a big hockey fanatic and an aspiring reporter I had to ask Doug a question I have been dying to ask. Watching the NHL Network and NHL Tonight I absolutely just love the post-game interviews with the players. I was curious to know how they pick the players and get them on the arena cam so quickly after a game. Doug shared with me that there is an arena cam installed in all 30 arenas by the NHL and, they are usually mounted in the center of the video boards. The interview is coordinated by Public Relations via e-mail or phone by each club letting the NHL know back in Toronto that XYZ player did this or ABC player did this. From there the league will usually respond back on who they would like on the arena cam for a post-game interview. Public relations will then take the player to the designated spot and place the headphones on them and then they will be connected with the league back in Toronto. Doug stated that the same thing happens with radio for post-game interviews. “There can be multiple interviews going on with different players using different mediums.”
**(Below is the video that Doug and I were discussing in the interview with Derek Morris after the Coyotes win over the Nashville Predators on 10/31/13)
I asked Doug what was the most rewarding thing about his job: his response was “creativity that’s what drives me is being creative.” Doug went on to express that he likes to be able to “take an interview and add highlights and music and dress it up so it is pleasing to the eye and the person the end user.” I could really tell that Doug takes pride in what he does and wants to make sure that the product he is putting out there, especially to the fans is 110%. If Doug was not in broadcasting he stated “I would still be in the creative world somewhere either recording studio or audio for film.” But needless to say Doug does not have to think about that since he is living the dream of working for a hockey club, doing broadcasting, all while being just a good old Canadian boy.
**(Below is a video with an interview with Rob Klinkhammer from a game and win on 10/21/13 vs. the Detroit Red Wings. It is an interview that was done in the locker room. But as discussed about the different mediums going on at the same time)
**(Below is a video with an interview with Rob Klinkhammer from a game and win on 10/21/13 vs. the Detroit Red Wings. It is an interview that was done in the locker room. But as discussed about the different mediums going on at the same time)
II had to ask the question even though I could tell that Doug was
really passionate about his job if there was anything he disliked his response
“it is really homogenized everybody is imitating everybody.” Basically once one
hockey club is doing something like a new “slow mow cam” then everyone has it.
I could not resist asking Doug what he loved most about the game of hockey being from Canada and all. “What’s there not to like about the game of hockey! It’s fast, it’s physical, it’s graceful, and it’s skillful. Players have to play both offense and defense. It’s always moving. It has a lot of tradition and a lot of respect players have respect for each other and their opponents. The game teaches a lot of life lessons.”
Doug has it all when it comes to the great success he has had in his career in broadcasting with a great franchise. He works for a hockey club, in a career path that he stumbled upon but loves. Not many people can say that they are “living the dream,” but the Doug the good old boy from Toronto, Canada can.
I could not resist asking Doug what he loved most about the game of hockey being from Canada and all. “What’s there not to like about the game of hockey! It’s fast, it’s physical, it’s graceful, and it’s skillful. Players have to play both offense and defense. It’s always moving. It has a lot of tradition and a lot of respect players have respect for each other and their opponents. The game teaches a lot of life lessons.”
Doug has it all when it comes to the great success he has had in his career in broadcasting with a great franchise. He works for a hockey club, in a career path that he stumbled upon but loves. Not many people can say that they are “living the dream,” but the Doug the good old boy from Toronto, Canada can.