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We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruthie Polinsky and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ruthie, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
It seems simple, but working hard and being nice to people will get you far. Early on in my career, I said yes to every possible opportunity in an effort to prove myself, and I did it with a smile. The industry is small and you never know who you will cross paths with in the future.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I didn’t realize what I wanted to do until after my sophom*ore year of college at the University of Michigan. During a summer job with my hometown MLB team, the St. Louis Cardinals, I realized I could combine my love of theatre, storytelling and performance with my love of sports. When I got back to school for my junior year, I felt behind schedule. I spent the next two years trying to play catch up, learning everything I could about what it took to be a sports broadcaster, getting on camera experience, and learning the intricate details of sports. When graduation rolled around, many of my friends were moving to big cities to pursue careers in finance and business. I was applying to small market TV jobs in tiny cities all over the country. I landed a job in Wichita Falls, TX, moving far away from family and friends. I was extremely isolated from the life I was accustomed to. I had an incredible boss who challenged me and pushed me to work harder than I ever had before. It was exhausting and lonely, but I never once wanted to quit. I loved the daily tasks of being a sports reporter and immersing myself into a new community. I felt like I was making an impact, and that made it all worth it. It was in Wichita Falls I found my passion and purpose. I learned that if you do what you love and you love what you do, the rest falls into place. After two years, I landed a job in Providence, Rhode Island, jumping nearly 100 markets. I covered all of the New England professional teams as well as the local college and high school teams in Rhode Island. In three years there, I was able to cover two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, a World Series with the Red Sox, a Stanley Cup Finals with the Bruins, and an Eastern Conference Finals with the Celtics. I covered March Madness and state championships. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. Three years later, I was offered a job in Miami/South Florida, jumping into a top 20 TV market and into one of the largest, most prominent sports cities in the country. It was never “easy” moving to a new city, leaving friends, starting a new job, and adjusting to a new work environment. But I have tried to do everything with a smile and with gratitude. That helps me get through the times of transition and uncertainty. I have faced challenges as a woman in a male dominated industry, but I have always walked into a room with confidence, knowing and believing I am prepared and qualified to be there. You have to have tough skin to work in the sports television industry, and that is still a work in progress for me. But my dedication and passion for sports storytelling always prevails, and I always feel rewarded after a long, hard day of doing what I love.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start the day by taking a long walk on the Venetian, one of my favorite things to do. I love getting coffee and breakfast at OTL in the Design District. We would have to have dinner at Mandolin Aegean Bistro, arguably my favorite restaurant in Miami. Another must: Old Greg’s Pizza. We would spend a day walking around Wynwood, stopping at 1-800 Lucky for lunch and drinks. If it’s basketball season, we’d head to a Heat game. Of course one day we would have to head to the beach. Walk or bike along the boardwalk and spend some time in the sand and water. I love getting drinks at Watr at the 1 Rooftop and The Broken Shaker. Other favorite restaurants: KYU, Seaspice, Lung Yai, Jaguar Sun, Bodega.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ll dedicate my shoutout to Tobin McDuff. He was my sports director in my first job out of college. He hired me with very little experience and believed in me from day one. He taught me the fundamental principles of working in local news, and gave me a chance to prove myself. He coached me and pushed me harder than anyone had in my life, which taught me more about myself than I could have ever imagined. He gave me my start, and that means the world to me to this day.
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ruthiepolinsky/?hl=en
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthie-polinsky-64621288/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ruthiepolinsky
Facebook:www.facebook.com/ruthiepolinsky
Nominate Someone:ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us knowhere.
