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In photos: How one Missouri School of Journalism student spent summer as both sports broadcaster and athlete marketer

Morgan, standing, and Shelley make final tripod adjustments for Shelley’s camera during production of the Scarlett Creative project. Photo: Nate Brown

Juniors Bella Morgan, standing, and Carys Shelley make final tripod adjustments for Shelley’s camera during production of the Scarlett Creative project. Photo: Nate Brown

By Austin Fitzgerald
Photos courtesy of Bella Morgan

Bella Morgan, a junior at the Missouri School of Journalism, was one of many students who made the most of their summer with hands-on work, whether it was through an internship or through a summer of community reporting at one of the School’s professional Missouri News Network newsrooms.

In Morgan’s case, it was both. As an intern at Scarlett Creative Co., a marketing agency for athletes and athletic brands, she gained firsthand experience working on the strategic communication side of athletics. For the agency, she helped put together a multimedia campaign promoting Mizzou gymnast Kennedy Griffin that will release at the end of the month.

“Holding the role of producer on this project was one of the best experiences I’ve had in college yet,” Morgan wrote in a LinkedIn post. “I had the opportunity to book a venue, fully staff our shoot, manage the call sheet, aid in scriptwriting and creative direction, and so much more. Producing in a creative capacity was something entirely new to me, and I embraced allof the challenges that came with actualizing a campaign in six weeks.”

But she wasn’t content with just one summer experience. At KOMU-TV, the School of Journalism’s NBC-affiliate TV station, she also covered high school and college sports on and off the field. From Missouri’s high school track and field championships to a camp for young athletes founded by star Mizzou Football alums Brady Cook and Cody Schrader, Morgan was there to give the community a front-row seat.

“I had the pleasure of anchoring many 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts on NBC, as well as going live from the field for the first time from Father Tolton Catholic [High School]. KOMU Sports has allowed me to take full control of my career in sports journalism, and I look forward to my last two years on the television and radio broadcasting track.”

Morgan is in her third year covering sports at KOMU, where she produces Hoops Madness — a segment covering high school basketball games in mid-Missouri — and also serves as a producer on Mizzou sports roundup Mizzou Xtra.

Outside KOMU, she is the assistant director student lead with Mizzou Broadcast Operations. She is also the social media administrator for the Tiger Kickoff Show, a multimedia collaboration with the School’s community newspaper, the Columbia Missourian. The show’s faculty adviser is John Anderson, BJ ’87, a 25-year veteran of SportsCenter who joined the School in 2025.

View the photos below to follow Morgan on her lively summer journey through both the journalism and strategic communication sides of sports.

Bella poses for a standup for a story on NCAA transfer rulings at Mizzou Football's Fall Media Day.
Bella poses for a standup for a story on NCAA transfer rulings at Mizzou Football’s Fall Media Day.
Morgan interviews Mizzou Head Tennis Coach Robin Goodman.
Morgan interviews Mizzou Head Tennis Coach Robin Goodman.
Morgan sits in the booth during the filming of Mizzou Xtra, a 30-minute studio show. She is responsible for timing the show and making sure all graphics, videos and show elements run smoothly.
Morgan sits in the booth during the filming of Mizzou Xtra, a 30-minute studio show. She is responsible for timing the show and making sure all graphics, videos and show elements run smoothly.
Morgan interviews Boonville High School Quarterback Tatum Hough for a Friday Night Fever preview package.
Morgan interviews Boonville High School Quarterback Tatum Hough for a Friday Night Fever preview package.
Morgan reports live on the opening of Tolton Catholic High School's new artificial turf football field and all-weather track, part of an $8 million renovation project.
Morgan reports live on the opening of Tolton Catholic High School’s new artificial turf football field and all-weather track, part of an $8 million renovation project.
Morgan stands in the studio before the start of her 10 p.m. sports block.
Morgan stands in the studio before the start of her 10 p.m. sports block.
Morgan covers the MSHSAA State Track and Field Championships from Jefferson City High School's Adkins Stadium.
Morgan covers the MSHSAA State Track and Field Championships from Jefferson City High School’s Adkins Stadium.
Morgan, far right, was the creative producer for a Scarlett Creative project featuring Mizzou gymnast Kennedy Griffin, seated, at Flipz Gymnastics in Columbia, Missouri. Morgan, who is interviewing Griffin, is listening to the gymnast’s responses captured by Katie Dalton’s tripod-mounted camera. Junior Carys Shelley, meanwhile, is capturing video with a hand-held camera. Photo: Nate Brown
Morgan, far right, was the creative producer for a Scarlett Creative project featuring Mizzou gymnast Kennedy Griffin, seated, at Flipz Gymnastics in Columbia, Missouri. Morgan, who is interviewing Griffin, is listening to the gymnast’s responses captured by Katie Dalton’s tripod-mounted camera. Junior Carys Shelley, meanwhile, is capturing video with a hand-held camera. Photo: Nate Brown
Morgan clips a wireless microphone to Mizzou gymnast Kennedy Griffin during production of the Scarlett Creative project. Photo: Nate Brown
Morgan clips a wireless microphone to Mizzou gymnast Kennedy Griffin during production of the Scarlett Creative project. Photo: Nate Brown

Updated: September 2, 2026