Where are they now? --- Josh Rawitch
Each week, IUSportCom interviews one of the Indiana University Sport Management and Communication program's alums working in the sport industry. This week, Zachary Eisenberg chats with Josh Rawitch, the Vice President of Communications for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. Josh talks about his time at Indiana, the steps that he took to get into baseball, and even gives us a couple comments about the impending McCourt divorce and its (lack of) impact on the front office.
ZE: How did you get into the Dodgers organization?
JR: During my freshman year at IU, a professor recommended that we should send out our resume to the local sports teams. So I went home (to Los Angeles) and put together a resume and cover letter. Then, I sent it off to the Dodgers. After I sent it to them, I had an interview with the team and was selected for an internship. I told them about how hard of a worker I am, and began working in the Advertising and Special Events department that summer.
ZE: How were able to work in the organization you attended college?
JR: After my freshman year of college, the baseball strike of 1994 happened. The season started around May of 1995 and I was home for the summer and was able to work for them. After I completed my internship, I begged them to come back and learn different aspects of the organization. They welcomed me back and allowed me to gain knowledge in different areas.
ZE: Did you have a mentor when entering the field? If so, what was the most memorable piece of information they gave you?
JR: When I was first starting out, I had a number of mentors that helped me along the way. However, if there is one that is the most notable, it would have to be the administrator of Baseball Operations and Assistant General Manager, Robert Schweppe. Two of the most important bits of information that he passed along to me was a) to learn Spanish (if I wanted to work in baseball) and b) have a broad-based background. Look at the whole industry. When I first interned, I wanted to work in Baseball Operations, but having a broad view of the industry allowed me to see what else is out there and explore other options.
ZE: If you were going to give someone advice who is trying to enter the sports entertainment industry, what information would you give them?
JR: Be persistent. However, it is important to keep in mind that there is a balance between annoyance and being persistent. It’s one thing to email someone and talk to them, but it’s another thing to email a person three times in a week asking when they are going to call you back. Everyone eventually has a chance to do an internship, whether it is in the professional or minor leagues, but it is what you with yourself once you get the internship that makes the difference.
Once you are in the door, separate yourself from everyone else. Your work ethic says a lot about you. Do things with a smile on your face. Don’t be lazy. People always to do the fun things, such as going down to the locker room to get a player to sign something, but then when it comes time for photocopying, they are nowhere to be found. Don’t slack at what is asked of you. Just do whatever they ask of you and do it to the best of your ability.
ZE: What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
JR: I had an internship with the IU Athletic Department in the Sports Information office. Also, I had the internship with the Dodgers and it helped me to learn about the day to day operations of a MLB team. Working with the Athletic Department at a Big Ten school helped to lay the foundation for my knowledge of how things are run in the marketing department.
Later on, I moved from the marketing side to the Public Relations side and really enjoyed that aspect. I eventually left for two years to become a reporter for two years for mlb.com. This helped me because I learned what reporters need. Then in 2003, I returned to the Dodgers. I accepted more responsibility to get to where I am now.
ZE: What can you take from your experience at IU and apply it to your current position?
JR: The IU Athletic Department gave me hands-on experience inside the sports world. It gave a sense of what it is like to work in a sports environment. I learned about the long hours and that it is not just a Monday through Friday job. There were a lot of nights and weekends of going out to the bars that were sacrificed while working for the IU Athletic Department, because I would have to be at a soccer game or a wrestling match. I ultimately learned how to put together media guides and press releases and learned how a Big Ten Athletic program is run.
ZE: Let's talk a bit about your employer, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The big news is the impending divorce of the owners, the McCourts. How will the divorce affect the organization and you and your job?
JR: The day-to-day operations of the team have not been affected by the divorce. Everything was set in stone before the divorce took place. This has created more work for me, as I have had to deal with more media requests and calls from the media about stories regarding the divorce. People believe that it is having a bigger impact on the organization than it actually is.
ZE: If Frank McCourt has to sell the team, are you concerned about your job?
JR: Not at all. I have been through a few ownership changes in the past and if you are good at what you do, then you don’t have to worry. It is also out of my control, so therefore I am not too concerned about it. I am not concerned about him selling the team. Things will return to normal in a matter of time.
Photo courtesy of MLB.com
