To Fresno and Beyond

By: Kate Norum

At a young age, Addison Van Patten knew she wanted to do something along the lines of investigating and all-in-all getting the latest scoop. Sports broadcasting was not the first thing she actually was most curious about, it actually was a crime investigation. Yes, like CSI. Van Patten became intrigued by that field but later didn’t feel right taking that path and eventually found her way towards sports reporting. A strong fondness towards writing and sports kept her motivation in this process of obtaining any position she could in this field. 

K: What made you want to go into sports broadcasting?

Well when I was younger I was sworn on wanting to be a CSI investigator. I wanted to do the interviews and find out the information, I was like, “I’m strong willed, I’m good at interrogating.” I have always loved newspapers, I thought it was one of the most interesting things ever. In my senior year of high school, I didn’t think the CSI thing was for me, it seemed too down in the dumps. So I started looking around and decided I wanted to take an investigative route and incorporate the hard-hitting journalism into that. From there I looked into possibly doing an internship at a news station. In my freshman year of college, the news station didn’t have an interest in me, because I was a freshman with no experience. So I realized I had to do something else. 

There was an ESPN affiliate in Fresno (California) and I was hoping to gain an internship there but was told, “they’re not doing internships.” I just wanted something where I could gain experience. They didn’t want interns , but I kept showing up for like an entire week. At the end of that week, they actually did call on me for help and within six months I was on-air. I was a part-time employee, almost working 40 hours a week, doing on-air in the afternoons. From then on, I knew that was always something that I knew I wanted to do. I always loved sports, and my dad and I would bond over it. So the sports thing worked for me. Although, I never was like, “I want to be a sports reporter.” But after I started learning more I enjoyed it and I said to myself “let’s just roll with it.” 

K: So you said your dad and you bonded over sports, which made an impact in your life. Were there any other people in your life who have made an influence on you and kept you going?

I’m a first-generation college graduate, so my parents we’re both striving the best for me. They didn’t finish out their education, so that was something that I always felt that I was on my own for, in a way. In that experience I didn’t feel like people we’re making sure I was passing my classes. It was very self-driven for me and I found the guidance of a mentor, who calls me his daughter, his name is George Takata. He (Takata) did local news in Fresno. One of the biggest influences in this field for me. 

Another person would have to be Cameron Worrell, a 6-year NFL vet. He’s (Worrell) done stuff for ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN radio and is Fresno State’s Sideline Reporter. He was the first person who gave me my first gig in this field. When I was working at the radio station, he would come on and freelance for them as someone for Fresno State Athletics.  He came to me and said he was starting a 7 on 7 football company, Passing Down, and was looking specifically to expand their social, and had a position for a sideline reporter. This position was to interview high school football prodigies. I was all in. I had the opportunity to interview people like Derek Carr and then Stephen Carr, who is at USC right now. There are tons of guys I interviewed before they became household names, in high school. It was my first time doing interviews and their first time partaking in the interviews, as well. So all in all, it was a great first experience.

K: Who happened to be the biggest aspiration(s) for you in this field to pursue sports broadcasting?

I’m definitely going to say Heidi Watney. She hosts the MLB show, QuickPitch, on MLB Network. I’m a huge baseball fan and I’ve always been a fan of hers. She also happens to be from Fresno and got her start from the same station that I did. I felt like I had this weird connection to her in that way. I was thinking, “if someone could make it out of here, then I can, too.” That is someone whom I have modeled myself after with how respectful and gracefully she does things, something I hope to strive for. 

Someone I would say I admire would be  Laura Rutledge. She always is very poised and put together and I hope to one day be half of the person that she is.

K: What is something that has stayed with you throughout your life and in your career?

Something that has always been super important for me is that you see certain people you like and you’re drawn to certain characters in the media. A real appreciation for their styles and I think “wow I want to style myself after that person.” But, the people that make it, those that are considered the “best”, don’t style themselves after anyone, and so that is something that I have to always remind myself. I don’t need to have someone else in the back of my mind all the time. I won’t get anywhere if I’m trying to be someone else. I think the biggest thing is finding the balance between being as professional as you possibly can, while still showing your personality. 

From getting her first shot of experience working at 940ESPN to court-side reporting for the G-League team, the Santa Cruz Warriors. Van Patten has been able to showcase her talents all over and has always striven for excellence in every broadcast. Currently she is a full-time sports reporter at WAOW, the ABC affiliate, in Wisconsin, which she recently just began back in May. 

With a new day comes new opportunities and Addison is making her moves in this business, from Fresno and beyond. 

Thank you to Addison for sharing your story and bringing immense insight into starting out in this field and continuing to give it your all.
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You can connect with Addison on Twitter: @AddisonVnPatten or on LinkedIn