The journalism graduate from Elon’s School of Communications is part of a team that produces the popular ESPN daily program, “Pardon the Interruption.”
Matthew Williamson, a 2018 Elon alumnus, was recognized for his work at the 40th annual Sports Emmy Awards sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The event was held May 20 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Williamson is associate producer for Rydholm Projects, which produces “Pardon the Interruption,” the Emmy Award-winner in the Outstanding Studio Show-Daily category. The program airs on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. EST weekdays and features hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.
Williamson works closely with two other associate producers and also contributes as a social media editor, posting on the program’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.
“I'm very humbled and appreciative to be a part of a great team that works extremely well together,” Williamson says. “I'm learning from the most intelligent and hard-working people, who not only treat me as a dedicated coworker but as a family member.”
As an Elon student, Williamson interned for ESPN's “First Take” following his freshman year. He also participated in the Elon in LA program and interned for Fox Sports’ “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, a sports radio show. He also interned at “Pardon the Interruption” in the summer of 2017 as a production assistant and was a research assistant for “The Starting Lineup,” a SiriusXM Radio sports talk show.
Williamson was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, was president and captain of Elon's Club Ice Hockey Team, a host for WSOE radio, collaborated with cinema and theatre majors to produce music videos and feature projects, and participated with the Elon Phoenix Weekly program filming collegiate sports at Elon, Duke and NCSU.
The Sports Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement by individuals and programs broadcast throughout the 2018 calendar year. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional, non-profit service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Award for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime Entertainment, Daytime Creative Arts & Entertainment, Public & Community Service, and Technology & Engineering.