On game day, Elizabeth “Liz” Langer pays attention to more than the scoreboard. While most fans focus on who’s winning, Liz is drawn to what happens in the stands—the conversations, traditions, and shared energy that turn a sporting event into a community experience. It’s that sense of connection that made sports feel meaningful to her long before she imagined a career in sports media.
“It doesn't matter how good the sport team is, how well they're doing this season,” Liz said, “it’s the people that love the teams, and I love the people.”
Liz is a second-year student majoring in Media and Professional Communications, an interdisciplinary program drawing from courses from the Communication, English, Film & Media Studies departments. Her interest in sports media began in high school where she was a cheerleader and experienced the thrill of being on the field. Over time, she realized that while being on the field was exhilarating, the fans brought their own sense of comradery, passion and stories to every game.
That realization helped Liz develop her academic path. Studying communication, she found, offered a way to understand and engage with the relationships that shape sports culture, from storytelling and media outreach to fan engagement and event production.
Her coursework emphasizes versatility, with a focus on writing and interpersonal communication. Liz applies these skills both in the classroom and in professional sports settings, where adaptability is essential.
“Communication is a field you can never fully prepare for, no matter how many courses you take,” Liz explained. “You have to adapt to the current work and societal conditions, something I’m learning through Pitt, but also through firsthand experience.”
One of these firsthand opportunities came in the fall of 2025 when Liz was the Outreach Intern for the Department of Communication. One of her duties that semester was to organize a networking event for undergraduate students, coordinating with nine communication alumni in various careers. The event highlighted the diverse professional opportunities available to communication majors and gave Liz valuable experience in event planning and alumni engagement.
She credits that experience as instrumental in helping her transition into her current internship role as a Rotational Associate with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. In this position, Liz works across departments, contributing to fan engagement, event operations, ticketing, merchandise, and corporate partnerships.
In addition to her work with the Riverhounds, Liz is a member of the Bucco Brigade, an in-game entertainment team for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In this role, she helps welcome fans and contributes to the classic Pittsburgh gameday atmosphere. On campus, Liz serves as Outreach Chair for the Communication Club, is a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma—a national service fraternity—and is soon to be an initiated member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Reflecting on her internships and other activities, Liz emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and embracing uncertainty.
“As long as you show up and give it your all, you can never fail. Everyone fails, that's how we learn. But giving yourself the grace to fail, I think, is a lesson everyone needs to learn.”
Whether her teams win or lose, Liz remains grateful for the chance to build a career in Sports media, especially as a woman early in her professional journey.
“Sports media is an expanding field,” Liz said, “and it’s so liberating and important for women to break into industries that they never would have had the opportunity to be part of 10-20 years ago.”
Written by Giulia Siegfried for COMMRC Connect