Sports columnist Ben Frederickson returns to OUTdrive to chat about all things sports and writing. Ben shares his hot takes on Mizzou Basketball, the possible outcomes of the MLB lockout, and the Blue’s chances at another playoff run. Cliff and Ben also dive a little deeper into storytelling, such as creating content for several multimedia platforms, using personas to reach consumers, and developing an ongoing dialog with your audience. 

Ben, better known as the columnist behind “BenFred,” is a sportswriter for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. He graduated from Mizzou’s school of journalism and had reporting stints at news outlets across the country, including Wyoming and Tennessee before landing back in the Show Me State in 2015. Originally from Sedalia, Missouri, Ben got his start in journalism writing an “inside the huddle” column for the Sedalia Democrat on Sunday after Smith Cotton football games. 

Tune in to this episode of OUTdrive for an update on your favorite teams and perspective from a writing professional when it comes to messaging that resonates with your audience. 

What you’ll learn: 

• Details behind the multimedia outlets Ben creates content for, including newspaper articles, online columns, radio shows, podcasts, videos, and how they are organized.
• The ongoing dialog Ben has with his readers and how good discussion can change opinions
• Ben’s hot takes on Mizzou basketball: the coaching staff and players
• An update on the MLB lockout situation and a look at spring training 2022
• The challenges of keeping tabs on several sports and trying to be in two places at once 
• What Ben’s writing schedule looks like and how it’s split between online content and newspaper columns
• How to write for certain audiences and use personas in storytelling
• An overview of Ben’s background and journey from Sedalia to the St. Louis Post Dispatch