Many of you may not know this but I am from San Diego, California but grew up in the Inland Empire (Murrieta,Ca), so I’ve been reading the local newspaper there The Press Enterprise for years now and Pep Fernandez has always been one of the most respected in the area.
For a little back ground noise on Pep Fernandez he is a man of many skills. He is the host of The Inland Sports Show on Fox Sports Radio, TV Sports Anchor for KCAL and play by play announcer for the Ontario Fury a local indoor soccer team.
Before Pep gets too big and blows up in the sports world I had to chat with him on the state of football recruiting and his advice on sports media.
RSEN: Who is the best athlete you’ve seen in the Inland Empire/Riverside since you’ve been covering football?
Pep: I’ve had the privilege of covering high school football all around the state of California. I covered quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back Ryan Mathews, Derek Carr, and Cody Kessler all in high school but the way Vista Murrieta’s Su’a Cravens dominated a game was amazing. His biggest downfall was because he was so talented that many teams “played away” from him so Su’a didn’t have many opportunities to make plays on defense. When he did, it was a sack or interception or another game-changing play, offensively, he lined up at receiver, running back, and anywhere else the Broncos needed him. He was that good!!!
RSEN: What is your favorite thing about hosting the Inland Sports Show on Fox Sports Radio?
Pep: I think my favorite thing about hosting the Inland Sports show is giving IE athletes and teams a place to shine on Fox Sports Radio. The IE has never been on Fox Sports Radio, so for me to be the very first to talk IE sports on Fox Sports is pretty special. There’s so many talented players and great stories to tell, I just feel blessed Fox Sports Radio gave me the green light to share all these things with folks around the Inland area.
RSEN: How has the recruiting game for football changed in your opinion over the past decade?
Pep: Wow, the recruiting game is ridiculous! Just 10 years ago, we barely talked about recruiting. With the emergence of social media and websites like Scout, RIvals, and countless others …. recruiting has turned into a “sports beat” where media outlets focus solely on recruiting. 10 years ago we NEVER reported on which school was offering a scholarship to a player. It happens all the time now, simply because there’s a demand for it. Viewers and listeners love to talk and learn about recruiting.
RSEN: How did you get your start in the sports media field?
Pep: I got my start in broadcasting as an intern at KHTK Sports 1140 in Sacramento and also as a part-time worker for a country music station in Redding, CA. My senior year in college, I began working for the ABC affiliate in Eureka and that positioned really opened my eyes to television. Even though I was still in college, they let me shoot,edit,write and report my own stories on live television and I was also the back-up Sports Anchor and was still a college student. Getting a taste of live television made me crave it more, and that’s when I decided television was the path for me.
RSEN: Who would you consider you’re dream interview?
Pep: My dream interview, that’s a tough one for me. Early in my career, I covered the Sacramento Kings in the early 2000’s, and as a big Kings fan, interviewing Chris Webber was my dream interview. To be quite honest, it’s not so much the celebrity of the person that leaves a lasting effect on me, but rather the substance of the person. For example, I covered a young football player battling cancer. He and I grew very close and stayed in touch for several years before he eventually lost his battle. I remember going on TV the night he passed away, wearing a bracelet he gave me, and trying to do the 6 o’clock news all choked up. So I guess you could say I don’t have a dream interview per say, but I’ll know it when it happens. Everyday people do very extraordinary things!
RSEN: What is your best advice for someone trying to get in the sports media world?
Pep: The best advice I could give someone looking to enter the sports media world is try everything. If it has anything to do with broadcasting, give it a try at least once. I first started working part-time at a radio station (way back in the day) and loved it. Then I started doing some play-by-play for basketball, public address announcing for basketball and soccer, and also learning television production. I got my first “real job” at the ABC tv station in Eureka, CA as sports anchor/reporter. I then jumped to the NBC in Chico, the ABC in Redding, and finally the ABC in Bakersfield. I spent 11-plus years in television before I took the job as a digital host/journalist for the Press-Enterprise. Now I’m back on the radio for Fox Sports and I also do sports updates for KCAL 96.7 fm, and I also host a local TV show called Riverside Sports Net. When I was in college and just starting my broadcasting career, I decided it was in my best interest to learn and try everything in broadcasting until I found my passion. I love radio and television, but I would have never known that if I didn’t take a leap of faith and tried it way back in 1998.
RSEN: With all of your success, what has kept you motivated throughout your career?
Pep: What keeps me motivated is the same thing that got me into sports media…trying new things. I went from radio, to television sports anchor, to digital host, to Fox Sports Radio host, and now I’m also doing play-by-play broadcasting for high school football and the Ontario Fury professional arena soccer team. I love new challenges and going beyond my comfort zone. If I could work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week I would. My wife and kids wouldn’t be happy about that but I love sports broadcasting!
For more on all things high school football and interviews follow me on twitter @donjamessports. Also follow the man that made his all possibly on twitter as well @SportswithPep
