Bonnie Bernstein is recognized by the American Sports casters Association as one of the most accomplished female journalists in her field. After spending 17 years covering some of the nation’s most prestigious sports events on-air for ESPN and CBS, she is now helping build a network both in front of and behind the camera. Bernstein is the “face” and Vice President, Content and Brand Development, of Campus Insiders, a digital collaboration between IMG College, America’s premier college sports marketing company, and Silver Chalice Ventures. Bernstein hosts a daily show during the college football season and NCAA Basketball Championship; her efforts elsewhere are focused on creating original programming for the network, developing and securing new sponsor partnerships, and designing brand extensions that enhance the reach of CI’s digital and social platforms. Additionally, Bernstein is the lone female fill-in host for the nationally syndicated TV/radio program, The Dan Patrick Show.
Numerous publications have documented Bernstein’s work, including The New York Times, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and TV Guide and lifestyle magazines such as Glamour, Self, Men’s Health and Celebrity Living. In 2010, she received Pop Warner’s “Female Achievement Award” for serving as a positive role model for kids. Bernstein has been named one of New York Moves Magazine’s “Power Women” and Jewish Women International has included her on its “Ten Women to Watch” list, an exclusive group selected from the United States, Canada and Israel for their professional achievements.
Read on as Bonnie Bernstein, named one of the most accomplished female sportscasters in history by the American Sportscasters Association, sits down and discusses everything from workout regime, diet, and beauty to her success secrets with Namita Nayyar, President of Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have selected a profession (sports journalism) that requires a lot of hard work and a mastery of many different sports. How do you achieve that?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: Preparation is the key to success in any business, and it’s probably what I take most pride in regarding my career! A lot of people over the years have asked if I ever get nervous on-camera, and I never have, because I fully subscribe to the adage, “knowledge is power.” If you know the game, if you know the stats and storylines inside and out, there’s never a reason to be nervous. And that’s applicable whether you’re covering a high school game or the Super Bowl.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You started your broadcasting career as the news and sports director at WXJN-FM radio in Lewes, Delaware, later transitioned to TV in Salisbury, Maryland, as the ABC affiliate’s weekend news anchor, then became Reno, NV’s first-ever female weekday sports anchor at NBC affiliate KRNV-TV. After 17 years at ESPN and CBS, you’re the “face” and Vice President of Content and Brand Development for Campus Insiders. Tell us something about this fairy tale journey.
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: While I’ve appreciated every stop en route to ESPN and CBS and had so many dream assignments working for the networks, it’s hard to put into words how energizing and fulfilling the last year and a half has been for me at Campus Insiders. As someone who’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s been incredible to be part of an executive team building a college sports network, particularly because there’s still this “Wild Wild West” mentality about the digital space. In just a year’s time, we’ve built strong relationships with our conference partners, broadcast more than 2,000 live events and created award-winning studio content. It’s been an incredible ride! Hope your fans will follow us @CampusInsiders on Twitter!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What do you do to stay in shape?
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you follow a special diet to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: I don’t subscribe to a particular diet, but I try to eat pretty healthy. Lots of chicken, fish and “superfoods”– fruits, veggies, nuts, healthy grains. And since I cook quite a bit, I love sharing and exchanging healthy dishes and new discoveries with fans on Twitter and Instagram (Tweet me your favorite dishes @BonnieBernstein)! That said, I have quite possibly the world’s biggest sweet tooth, so a few pieces of dark chocolate every day is a must and I do splurge one day a week and eat everything under the sun. And I mean everything! It’s my reward for being relatively conscious the rest of the time. Plus, it actually jump starts your metabolism.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you do any skin treatments?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: I’ll try to get a facial once every two months, but honestly, the key to healthy skin and hair for me has been eating well and drinking lots of water!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words for aspiring female sports journalists and broadcasters. How can they climb the ladder of success?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: First and foremost, never let anyone deter you from your dreams. Succeeding in a predominantly male industry often requires you to wear blinders and to have unwavering confidence that you’ve got what it takes to rise to the top. There’s no substitute for hard work! My other recommendation is to make it your mission to network. Through internships, through alumni groups, through friends and family. The more people you know, the better you position yourself to seize opportunity. And do hand-written thank you notes. A dying art. But it makes a long-lasting impression.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: On October 11, 2006, doctors discovered life-threatening blood clots in both of your lungs (pulmonary emboli) that originated in your left leg (deep vein thrombosis.). How you were able to overcome such a physical medical setback and what advice you can give to those in a similar situation?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: I couldn’t travel to cover games for three weeks so the medication could dissolve the blood clots, but ultimately, because the extensive flying I’d been doing was one of the primary risk factors in my diagnosis, I got off the road for several years and focused on studio hosting. Many people don’t realize complications from DVT kill more Americans than breast cancer and AIDS combined, but the good news is, it’s largely preventable. Several online risk assessment tools are available and if you think you may have a blood clot, get to a doctor right away.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You graduated from the University of Maryland magna cum laude with a degree in broadcast journalism. You were also a four-time Academic All-American in gymnastics. How did this background help you become one of the American Sportscasters Association’s most accomplished female sportscasters in history?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: There was a study about 10 years ago that indicated more than 80% of businesswomen in executive positions were competitive athletes growing up. What’s the correlation? The characteristics and skill sets you build as an athlete– teamwork, discipline, time management, the ability to overcome obstacles– are also critical building blocks for success in the workplace! I’ve always strived to be the best I can possibly be in every facet of my life, so I guess I just approach my job with the same type of focus as I did academics and sports as a kid.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You’re very involved in our nation’s battle to curb childhood obesity and are a spokesperson for the Coalition to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis. How you have been able to quench your thirst for giving back through these endeavors?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: One of the most fulfilling parts about working on a national platform is leveraging it to help make a difference! Having survived my scare with DVT, I kinda feel obligated to help raise the awareness level in this country about a largely preventable condition. As for my work in the childhood obesity space, it’s also really personal, as a close family member struggled through it in her youth. If we can just help kids understand that fitness can be fun and that sound nutrition doesn’t have to be a chore, they can develop healthy habits they can take with them through life.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You are a successful journalist, businesswoman, philanthropist and public health advocate. How you are able to manage such a remarkable, multi-faceted lifestyle?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: I’m still trying to figure it out, lol! I do feel overscheduled much of the time, but particularly since my DVT diagnosis, I’ve forced myself to schedule “breathers” into my life, whether that entails spending time with friends and loved ones, working out, treating myself to a spa day or just decompressing at home reading or listening to music. As a Type A personality, it’s really hard sometimes to step away from work or shut down the computer or my phone, but I’ve come to genuinely appreciate the balance in my life. It’s been a process, to be sure… but I can actually say I do that now!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Bonnie Bernstein: Thanks so much for the opportunity to share my story with your readers. If you’re a college sports fan, please stop by our Campus Insiders site: http://www.campusinsiders.comm, and follow us on Twitter/Instagram: @CampusInsiders, and the best way to reach me directly is on Twitter: @BonnieBernstein. Hope to hear from you!
Know the latest about Bonnie Bernstein, check her out at twitter: @bonniebernstein
Women Fitness Team thanks Bonnie Bernstein for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and also wish to thank Heather L. Weiss Vice President of Much and House Public Relations who made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness