Jan. 23, 2024

Ferris State Alum a Rising Star in Journalism Now Covering University of Tennessee Women’s Sports

Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Cora Hall is a rising star in the world of sports journalism, covering the University of Tennessee’s women’s sports program. But she says Ferris State University gave her skills to launch a successful career. 

The Lansing native came to Ferris State in 2017 with the ability to write for publications, which arose after a change of fortune in her high school days. 

“I had discussions with my parents, fully intending to pursue a career in education in college,” Hall said. “But when my high school restarted its student newspaper, I found my love for journalism, so I ended my plans to become a teacher and entered the Journalism and Technical Communication program when I got to Ferris.”

Hall gained experience by joining the Ferris State Torch, the student-run weekly newspaper, and found a passion for reporting.  

“I got to gain experience in several roles, and it provided the most valuable part of my education in my four years at Ferris,” Hall said. “It also helped me figure out what I wanted to pursue in this industry and the experience I got at the Torch helped me develop so I could hit the ground running after college.”  

Hall wrote feature content and general interest stories and produced opinion editorials in her first year with the paper. She became news editor of the Torch in May 2018 and covered contract negotiations between the university and the Ferris Faculty Association and the university.  

“That really showed me what ‘boots on the ground’ journalism was about,” Hall said. “I was there at faculty demonstrations, gaining confidence in my ability to report on a major story. There was much to navigate, in the sense that balancing my content was complicated by ‘no comment’ replies from one side in the proceedings. I was proud that I committed to being there, in terms of my coverage throughout the process.” 

Hall was sports editor during her second year as Ferris State made its first run to the NCAA Division II football championship game.   

“That was a really fun experience that pointed me toward sports journalism,” Hall said. “I began by organizing our coverage for the championship game and joining the reporter who had been on that beat through the season. I had always enjoyed athletics prior to this, but covering the Bulldogs and that kind of success was a significant opportunity.”   

Hall built on her experiences in Summer 2019 as an intern with the Grand Haven Tribune.  

“It was valuable to gain experience producing content on a daily basis,” Hall said. “I enjoyed being my own photographer and getting that kind of exposure to local-level journalism.”  

While continuing with the Torch’s major sports assignments, Hall also tackled content like “On the Record,” or police blotter compilations and continued her delivery of opinion editorials. Though most of Hall’s work in communications has been as a reporter and section editor, a stint as the Torch editor-in-chief in her senior year was illuminating to managing the business side of journalism.  

“I was proud of my efforts to support all of our staff as they took up and presented their assignments,” Hall said. “We were able to deliver many meaningful stories that demonstrated our team effort and commitment to good journalism.”  

Hall’s personal commitment to excellence was recognized throughout her days at Ferris State, as a Dean’s List qualifier each term on campus, she also won the Torch’s award as outstanding journalist in 2019, then received a Michigan Press Association Scholarship and the university’s Technical Communication Scholarship in 2020. The Asian American Journalists Association added to Hall’s accolades with the Jimmie and Suey Fong Yee Scholarship.  

“I was also honored to be part of the 2021 class of the Sports Journalism Institute, which is an internship program with a mission to increase diversity in the nation’s sports media. Hall said. “It is an opportunity that focuses on providing access and connections to women and people of color seeking a career in journalism. I spent my time through the institute with the Kansas City Star, where I was assigned to local sports coverage and following the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League, during their first season. The SJI might have taken a bit of a chance of me, but I am so grateful, as it jump-started my career. I certainly believe that experience allowed me to be in the position I enjoy in Knoxville.”  

Confidence, candor and successful networking seemed to be brought to bear as Cora’s internship ended and her first professional move developed.  

“I saw the News-Sentinel as an interesting destination and interviewed at their request, for a job as a high school sports reporter while I was still in Kansas City,” Hall said. “When we spoke, I just talked about how passionate I was about covering women’s sports after my summer in Kansas City and how that was what I wanted to do with my career. The next day, I got a call back offering me the position covering Tennessee women’s athletics, with a focus on women’s basketball. It was an incredible opportunity, and I’m grateful I stayed true to myself and wasn’t afraid to talk about my passion and goals. I was really thankful for a contact I had made with USA Today, who had passed my name to them.”  

The “Lady Vols” have the distinction of participating in every NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament, winning eight national titles in that streak. Hall said there was even a Ferris State connection to enjoy as she arrived on the beat. Jordan Walker, daughter of Ferris State Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame players Jarvis and Danielle (Smith) Walker, transferred in from Western Michigan the previous season.  

“That was so exciting to meet and talk with Jordan, since I had met her sister Jasmyn when she worked as an assistant coach at Ferris,” Cora said. “It was great to have that bond as I began my assignment.”  

Tennessee competes in the heralded Southeastern Conference and was upset in their second game of the current season by Florida State, 92-91, where both teams were nationally ranked. Hall said her job covering the Lady Vols in whatever sport is assigned a considerable task.  

“Many college beats are often the job of one writer to gather and produce the content, but our situation in Knoxville is unique, with three beat writers and a columnist,” Hall said. “It is amazing to have stepped into a college beat in my first job and to be covering women’s basketball in particular. I love covering women’s hoops, not just because the product is excellent but because we are often required to consider and have discussions around intersectionality in terms of race and gender across the sport. I am incredibly passionate about fostering and exploring those discussions because it’s crucial to the growth of the game.”  

Hall’s entry into major college athletics coverage has not gone unnoticed. She received the Rising Star Award from the United States Basketball Writers Association last year. The award is given to a writer under 30 for their coverage of a men’s or women’s program.

“I am humbled by this honor,” Hall said. “It is by far the greatest accomplishment of my career.”    

Feeding the need to know for Lady Vols fans has its daily demands, but Cora has found time to give back to aspiring journalists to expand her involvement in such causes.  

“I enjoy visiting journalism classes to tell of my experiences,” Hall said. “That finds me speaking as a guest at the University of Tennessee’s School of Journalism and Media. I really want to do more of this in the future when I can, especially in terms of having a more active role in the Asian American Journalists Association.”