Bloomsburg Built

Addison Sondberg didn’t wait her turn. And that’s exactly why she’s ahead.

At many of the nation’s most recognizable media broadcasting schools, aspiring sports reporters spend their early college years watching from the sidelines, waiting for upperclassmen to graduate before they ever touch a microphone or camera.

Sondberg ’26, a recent Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg media and journalism graduate, knew that path existed. She just chose a different one.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so glad I chose Bloomsburg,” Sondberg said. “Because had I gone to Temple, had I gone to Syracuse … you’ve got to wait your turn.”

At Bloomsburg, there was no waiting. There was opportunity.

“I was able to do it since my freshman year,” said Sondberg, whose immediate, hands-on, and unfiltered access became the foundation of everything that followed.

Her early days on camera weren’t polished. They weren’t supposed to be.

“I was able to fail, able to stutter, able to look bad,” Sondberg said. “I was able to do all the things that happens to everyone when they first start to find their voice.”

That freedom to grow in real time is what she now sees as Bloomsburg’s advantage — a “hidden jackpot” as she calls it, for students willing to take initiative.

“By the time my junior and senior year rolled around, I was starting to master my craft and become what it is that I see myself being,” Sondberg said.

While larger programs may offer bigger stages and broader networks, Sondberg believes something more valuable is often missing. 

Repetition.

“You go to any top broadcasting school where they have so many people, and it’s so competitive,” Sondberg said. “Maybe they have bigger stages, but our broadcasts at Bloomsburg are built for the bigger stages. That makes Bloomsburg look like a very big stage.”

A Speedy Start

Sondberg didn’t arrive at Bloomsburg as a beginner. Her media and journalism momentum started at Washington Township High School in Sewell, N.J., where she created her own sports segment, Speedy Sports, delivering updates on teams and standings.

“That was my sophomore year,” she said. “I was like, oh, I like being a sports girl.”

She also built a personal website early — initially just for college applications — but one that would later become a professional asset.

“It’s become a great place to send employers when I’m like, hey, here’s my stuff,” Sondberg said.

That instinct to create, to document, to build has proved critical. Looking back, she recognizes how much earlier students can start.

“I think, oh wow, there’s probably so many things I could’ve been doing in high school even that would give me a leg up,” Sondberg said. “So that epiphany, I was very grateful for.”

At Bloomsburg, she didn’t hesitate. After a meeting with her academic advisor, she was immediately connected with faculty and opportunities. Within weeks, she was working games.

“I think my first game was in October (freshman year),” Sondberg said. “The sky was the limit after that.”

From volleyball to football to basketball, Sondberg immersed herself in nearly every role possible — on camera, behind the scenes, and eventually on the mic.

“They had me do one game on camera before I could get behind the mic so you can appreciate the behind the scenes,” Sondberg said. “I’m glad they did that.”

That full-spectrum experience gave her something more than clips. It gave her perspective.

Preparation Meets Pressure

While Sondberg proved capable across roles, it was sideline reporting where everything clicked.

“To be able to talk to a camera like it’s a person and translate conversations from the players, the coaches … that gives you that extra inside scoop,” Sondberg said. “You only have a certain amount of time to get out what you need to get out.

“And when you’re done. It’s one of the most rewarding things. Like, I’m adding that one to my reel.”

Her process is meticulous. She writes, rehearses, and refines — often in the exact environment where she’ll perform.

“I will rehearse it to the camera prior to make sure I’m hitting all my points,” Sondberg said. “Knowing how loud it’s going to be … making sure nothing throws me off.”

That preparation paid off in moments that couldn’t be scripted — like delivering a stand-up while players dunked and screamed just feet behind her.

“I was able to stay composed and continue what I had to say,” Sondberg said.

Even more striking? She taught herself much of it.

“My own free will,” Sondberg said. “I never asked anyone about that, now that I think about it.”

Structured Success

Sondberg’s resume at Bloomsburg reads like a full newsroom.

She served as vice president of Husky Vision (video production club), sports director for WHSK (student radio station), and sports editor for The Voice (student newspaper). She minored in marketing and was in the Honors program. She also ran social media for the Huskies men’s basketball team, an experience that deepened her understanding of storytelling and team dynamics.

“When you know them on a personal level, you want them to succeed,” Sondberg said. “You just become so much more passionate.”

But she didn’t stop on campus. She sought out every opportunity she could find, often by simply reaching out.

“Bucknell was literally me just emailing the head broadcaster,” said Sondberg of what turned into play-by-play and sideline opportunities, including appearances on ESPN+.

“Of course, how could I not do that?” Sondberg said. “An opportunity to get my face on ESPN+ … I’m doing it.”

She covered high school football for Service Electric Cablevision, refining her interview style. She called Ivy League softball for the University of Pennsylvania. She worked with independent broadcast networks. Each experience added another layer.

“Networking is very, very important,” Sondberg said. “Very important.”

For her, success isn’t accidental. It’s structured.

“I definitely thrive on being productive,” Sondberg said. “If I have a list of things I have to get done in a day, I will write it down hour by hour.”

That mindset separates interest from commitment, and in a competitive field like sports media, it matters.

“I really thrive on being productive,” Sondberg said. “I like having a full schedule, setting goals, and constantly working toward something. That drive is what keeps me going in such a competitive field.”

Even now, as a recent graduate, she continues to build. She works as an associate producer for 97.5 The Fanatic, the flagship station for the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers, and Union, while pursuing freelance opportunities across the region.

And she’s still chasing the next step.

“I’m trying to speak it into existence,” Sondberg said of a potential on-air role. “If I become that person, I would actually cry real tears.”

Sondberg’s story isn’t just about talent. It’s about timing, access, and environment. At Bloomsburg, she didn’t wait to be ready. She became ready by doing.

That’s the Bloomsburg difference.

It’s the chance to step into real roles as a freshman. To build a reel before junior year. To fail early, improve quickly, and graduate with experience that’s not theoretical but marketable.

“I’m going to want every opportunity,” Sondberg said. “Looking back, Bloomsburg gave me the space to grow, to take risks, and to figure out exactly who I want to be in this industry.”