For third-year University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) Media & Communication Studies (MCS) student Rylie Clemons, storytelling is an outlet where she can embrace her authentic self.
Whether through written stories or social media content, each medium allows her to connect with audiences, share meaningful stories, and drive positive change. She is equally passionate about creating opportunities to amplify diverse voices where underrepresented perspectives can be heard.
Being the daughter of legendary former CFL and NFL player, Toronto Argonauts general manager, and philanthropist Michael “Pinball” Clemons, Rylie is no stranger to media. But now, she is carving her own path in the industry at U of GH and beyond – on her own terms.
Discovering her spark
It was during Rylie’s Writer’s Craft class in high school that she initially discovered the joys of writing to process her emotions. From there, she started experimenting with different ways to tell stories, including writing a script for a short film and learning to leverage social media.
During this time, after experiencing her own mental health struggles, she wanted others to know they’re not alone, which is when she teamed up with her best friend to create social media content to break down stigma.
Rylie began to find her own voice, separate from her family’s success and the influence of others. This eventually led her to U of GH’s Media & Communication Studies program.
“It's very important to be honest and be raw about your good times, but also about your bad times too. That's where I found my lane in terms of wanting to tell a story, paint a picture, and use social media as a tool to be real,” she said.
Although her father was a constant source of support and mentorship, Rylie never wanted to live in his shadow; she wanted to make a name for herself, so she worked tirelessly to succeed on her own merits. While she acknowledged the privilege of having a father who could sometimes help her get a foot in the door, she understood that it was ultimately her responsibility to prove herself.
“I want to feel like I'm here because I got here on my own merit, my grades, my hard work,” Rylie said. “[My dad] might be able to get me into these places, but if people don't like me, if they don't respect me, if I don't have a good work ethic, I’ll never have anything to bring to the table.”
Making space for diverse perspectives
Part of Rylie’s authenticity as a storyteller is the ability to embrace her identity.
Wanting to bring diverse perspectives to U of GH within sports media, Rylie teamed up with MCS Associate Head Marc Tavares to host a panel called “Powering Purpose: Making an Impact in Sports Media.” As a Black woman, Rylie recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives in the media and how lived experiences can enrich storytelling, broaden representation, and shape the narratives that audiences consume.
The panel was curated to include Black and female speakers: Mya Hastings (sports content creator and fitness trainer), Kadiatu Barrie (host and PA announcer), Chloe Atkins (social media manager, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Forge FC), Ralph Holley (Toronto Argonauts player), and her father, Michael “Pinball” Clemons.
As an organizer, Rylie learned the value of planning ahead. As the panel moderator, she asked thought-provoking questions, covering topics like being a woman in a male-dominated space, managing expectations during the day-to-day work of a social media manager, taking care of your mental health in the social media age, being a person of colour in sports media, and more.
As an advocate for mental health, Rylie asked panellists questions about this topic. They described the importance of developing a “thick skin” in the sports media industry because of the public criticism, but they also underscored that athletes are not immune to the negative effects of online hate.
However, one of the strongest messages of the panel was to build a strong personal brand by being yourself.
“Be authentic and use your life experiences to fuel whatever it is that you’re going to do, and to leave your special and unique impact on the industry,” Hastings said.
This message resonated with Rylie and her peers – embrace who you are. For Rylie, that comes with uplifting others along the way.
“I think it's very important that we are aware of the lack of space that has historically been there for minorities,” she said, adding this includes people of colour, people of various abilities, different genders, etc. “[We must] create space…but actually give them ownership over the space.”
Discover what the University of Guelph-Humber’s Media & Communication Studies program has to offer here.
