Senior Journalism major heads to national Sports Journalism Institute

From New Britain to a national cohort, Marcus Saunders is stepping onto a much larger field.

Saunders, a senior Journalism major at Central Connecticut State University, has been selected for the 34th class of the Sports Journalism Institute, joining a highly competitive 2026 cohort that includes students from University of California, Los Angeles, University of Texas at Austin, University of Pennsylvania and Norfolk State University.

This year’s class also marks a milestone for Central. For the first time, the university is represented in SJI’s expanding national network.

Founded in 1992, SJI provides a rigorous nine-week training and internship program for college students pursuing careers in sports journalism. Following the training portion, Saunders will intern with The Providence Journal, where he will gain additional experience in sports feature writing and multimedia reporting.

Saunders serves as the co-editor-in-chief of the Central Recorder, the student newspaper. For him, sports journalism offers a way to pursue his passion for print and sports. 

Saunders serves as the co-editor-in-chief of the Central Recorder, the student newspaper. For him, sports journalism offers a way to pursue his passion for print and sports, albeit off the field. 

“I was an athlete for high school, middle school, and before that. I didn’t even think about journalism until COVID hit because I was just thinking about sports,” he says. “Once I realized that I wasn’t going to make it to the pro level, I wondered how sports could still be a part of my life. So, once I found out about sports journalism, I really dug into that, started following news pages, just keeping up with the news and the media.”

Sixteen students in the 2026 class will begin with an intensive, one-week boot camp at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in June, diving into advanced reporting, writing and multimedia storytelling.

Participants also gain access to a national alumni network whose members have gone on to careers at ESPN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and The Athletic. Following the boot camp, Saunders will intern with The Providence Journal, where he will further develop his skills in sports feature writing and multimedia reporting.

For faculty who have worked closely with him, Saunders’ selection reflects steady growth and dedication to the craft.

“I have taught Marcus in multiple classes here at Central, and have been consistently impressed by his curiosity, commitment to learning the craft and exceptional work ethic,” said Aimee Crawford, Robert C. Vance Endowed Chair in Journalism and Mass Communication. “He was the first student to enroll in our new Sports Studies minor. I have no doubt that Marcus will seize this opportunity with the Sports Journalism Institute – and that he has a bright future in sports media.”

Crawford noted that programs like SJI offer an important extension of a student’s academic experience.

“Programs like the Sports Journalism Institute provide experiential learning opportunities and hands-on training for our students, equipping them with the skills, the confidence and the connections to thrive in the sports media industry,” she said. “Marcus is Central’s first SJI representative, but I am confident he will not be our last.”