Behind-the-Scenes: Hearst Television Anchors Reflect on Covering the 2024 Paris Olympics
A Look Inside Hearst
Author: Hearst Marketing Communications | Published 8/15/24
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games brought athletes, families, fans and journalists together for a spectacle of epic proportions showcasing triumphs of athleticism and sportsmanship from around the world. Hearst Television (HTV) has a rich history covering the modern Olympic Games, and HTV reporters and crew members were once again on the ground in Paris for the XXXIII Olympiad. We caught up with Jason Newton of WBAL-TV, Baltimore, who covered his first Olympics this summer, and Deirdre Fitzpatrick of KCRA-TV, Sacramento, who counts Paris as her 11th Olympic Games!
The Hearst Television Olympic team—Larry Vancini, Fletcher Mackel, Jason Newton, Stephanie Bruner, Bridget McGeady, Sebastian Gonzalez, and Ben Miller—at the Louvre.
An Olympic Rookie Charts a Course in Paris
Covering the Paris Olympics has been the assignment of a lifetime, and I’ll never forget this. Our Hearst team is the cherry on top of the Olympic sundae.”
Gold Standard Reporting: A Seasoned Pro Returns
Deirdre Fitzpatrick is the weekday morning news anchor at KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA, and hosts the weekly “Dying To Ask” podcast. She is also an 11-time member of the Hearst Olympics Team, providing live coverage and a daily blog called The Fitz Feed. Deirdre has traveled around the world creating Olympic content for Hearst, including 2000 Sydney, 2002 Salt Lake City, 2004 Athens, 2006 Torino, 2008 Beijing, 2010 Vancouver, 2012 London, 2014 Sochi, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2018 Pyeongchang, and most recently 2024 Paris.
“When covering the Olympics, I describe my job as equal parts travel, sports and news reporter,” Deirdre said. “The Olympics changed the trajectory of my career. I've seen our coverage grow from a TV-only project to a fully immersive, digital experience across multiple platforms and social media.”
RETURN TO CAREERS HOMEPAGE
Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Todd Eagle, chief photographer at WVTM-TV in Birmingham, gearing up for action in Paris.
Jason Newton anchors the 5 p.m. news and reports live for WBAL-TV’s 11 p.m. news. “I love my hometown Baltimore. Reporting for WBAL-TV feels like an awesome way to do it: to inform, shine a light and have as much fun as I possibly can,” Jason explained. He used that expertise to spotlight interesting stories from Paris that resonate with audiences back in the States while showcasing the city’s unique joie de vivre. “In Paris, we’re providing viewers the flavor and atmosphere, and working with people like Deirdre and Fletcher Mackel (WDSU-TV) has given me an opportunity to work with the best and learn the best ways to make these stories sing.”
Jason had no shortage of highlights from his first time Olympics. “Doing a story on the volunteers, who are the first faces visitors and fans see when they come to the Games, was very special to me,” he shared. “I visited the High Performance Training Center and interviewed several medalists, and their energy and pride for Team USA is infectious. These folks leave me inspired.” And even a little (or a lot!) of rain couldn’t bring Jason’s game down: “My favorite event was watching the Opening Ceremony from the banks of the Seine, across from Notre Dame, among Parisians in the rain.”
Jason on the banks of the Seine during the rainy Opening Ceremony
Jason outside Team USA House in Paris
Although a veteran reporter, Jason was an Olympic rookie and felt deep gratitude for getting the assignment of a lifetime and experiencing his first Olympics with his HTV colleagues. “Deirdre, Fletcher, Bridget McGeady, Todd Eagle, Sebastian Gonzalez, Larry Vancini, Ben Miller, Stephanie Bruner, David Hurlburt, Erin Skeele, Wendy Wilk and more — there were many smart people, meeting each other for the first time and working together. Sometimes, the universe deals you just the hand you need, and we win every single day together,” he noted. “This has been a wonderful experience.”
– Jason Newton, News Anchor, WBAL-TV
I helped start the Olympic project in 2000 and have traveled around the world creating content for our Hearst Television stations, reporting from 11 Olympics from 2000 Sydney to 2018 Pyeongchang, and now 2024 Paris.”
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, News Anchor, KCRA-TV
“I’ve LOVED the Games since I was a kid, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to work on the Hearst Olympic Team. Every two years, the world stops to focus on the dreams and hard work of a handful of humans who put themselves to the ultimate test. There are so few unifying moments on our planet right now. The Olympics is one of them, and to play a small role in telling its story is an honor I don’t take for granted.”
Among Deirdre’s highlights from the recent games: gymnastics ‘GOAT’ Simone Biles. But Deirdre’s admiration of Simone goes beyond the training floor. “I believe Simone’s legacy won't just be in gymnastics; it will be for starting the dialogue on mental health transparency,” Deirdre noted, citing a notable shift on the topic across sports. “Every athlete I’ve talked to references mental health and mindfulness training.”
Deirdre gets ready for a live shot
Decorated Olympic gymnast Suni Lee speaks with Deirdre
The host city was also a highlight and exceeded expectations for Deirdre. “Paris is a rebirth of the Olympic movement and storytelling. Paris has re-imagined what an Olympics can look like, with its iconic landmarks as backdrops and its public transportation system as the main mode of travel. To everyone — athletes, fans and journalists — the atmosphere was joyful,” she said. “There's a sense of wonder and lightness that I haven't seen since before the pandemic.”
To close out the ceremonies, Deirdre shared her favorite moments and awarded medals of her own: gold to the City of Paris; silver to the athletes and their fans who were “next level” in their support and enthusiasm for all athletes; and bronze to Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav for the energy, wonder and cheerleading both brought to the Games.
At its heart, the Olympics is about moments, not medals.”
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, News Anchor, KCRA-TV
Want to see more behind the scenes shots from Paris? Follow Jason at @Jason_Newton11 and Deirdre at @RunReadSip on Instagram. And learn more about Hearst Television and find open positions across the Hearst portfolio that resonate with your interests.