Interview with Scott Wheeler

A journalist's education story

In this episode of The Education Road, we speak with Scott Wheeler, a national NHL reporter for The Athletic, who describes his learning journey as "never-ending".

Unlike many who navigate uncertainty during their high school years, Scott knew from a very young age that he wanted to pursue sports journalism. He chose Carleton University for its strong academic foundation, minoring in law as a potential backup plan while benefiting from the school's prestigious journalism program and extensive internship network.

During the interview, Scott highlights the critical role early hustle played in shaping his career. Coming up during the dawn of sports blogging and Twitter, he aggressively pitched local newspapers as a teenager, built a personal online following, and secured high-profile internships at The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and The Toronto Star. His time at The Toronto Star exposed him to fast-paced newsroom dynamics, covering everything from real estate to court cases, which ultimately taught him how to bring deep humanity and compelling storytelling into his sports writing.

Now a decade into his career at The Athletic, Scott shares valuable insights on honing a distinct writing voice, learning to embrace criticism, and transitioning to a more conversational, listening-focused interview style. He also reflects on modern challenges in the field, including online hostility from fans, the public perception gap surrounding mainstream media, and the rising threat of AI generative tools on basic literacy, critical thinking, and authentic human expression.

Closing out the conversation, Scott advises aspiring writers to start small, build an online presence early, and continuously pursue hands-on experience wherever possible.