Rob King, senior vice president and editor in chief of ESPN digital and print media, visited Westminster Oct. 26 to talk with students and faculty about his work at ESPN and a career that has included positions as a cartoonist and a journalist.
“The reason I came here is to talk about you,” he told the students in the audience. “I want to tell you that I am jealous of everyone in the room.” He then cited some reasons for his envy. The first was that they have more access to information than he had growing up. He told them how he learned to be a cartoonist from studying information in the World Book Encyclopedia and comic books, the only resources available to him at the time.
“You have access to creative things,” he added, talking about how they can produce content for YouTube. “In art and writing, you can be in business right now,” he explained. “You can go to YouTube and learn how.”
He also talked about how they have the ability to communicate with anybody they want, at any time. “You are not hindered by the social hang-ups of our generation,” he pointed out. “You are not afraid of certain things.”
He encouraged the students to enjoy the present. “You are at an amazing place. You are the most precious element in this conversation. You are on a journey that can take you to lots of different places.”
After talking about his early career, he added, “Between the ages of 14 and 30, you will be 15 people. Give yourself permission to be the age you are. …Slow down. … Along the way, you will learn, try, fail, succeed and start over.”
In discussing his work at ESPN, he emphasized, “The world we live in is moving so fast. We are constantly trying to meet your expectations. … We have to think about all of your points of view and needs, and deliver in real time.”
In closing he said, “You are on your way, and I am proud to have spent some time with you.”