2017 Communication (B.A.) Graduate
What Are You Doing Professionally Now?
I am currently the sports editor at the Rockdale/Newton Citizen, a bi-weekly newspaper that covers both Conyers and Covington, Georgia.
How did you get your job?
This position was actually brought to my attention from my boss and current sports editor at the Gwinnett Daily Post. After freelancing for Will Hammock and the GDP for about three years, I was recommended by him to take over the Rockdale/Newton sports editor position. We are sister papers under the same company.
On a typical day in your position, what do you do?
There is no typical day being a sports editor, and no two days are identical. I am in charge of covering six different GHSA high schools, as well as two private schools. With that, I am in charge of writing stories, editing stories from freelancers, taking photos and setting up a budget for our print edition that runs every Wednesday and Sunday. Based on what season it is and what sports are currently taking place, I can be seen wearing many hats and watching my schedule change in the blink of an eye.
What special advice would you give someone entering your field of work?
If you want to be a sports editor or a sports writer for a newspaper, start freelancing immediately. I cannot stress this enough. I would not be where I am at, the youngest sports editor in the state of Georgia, if not for freelancing. All-in-all, I freelanced for four years while in college and was hired to this position within three months of graduating. Once someone enters the field full-time, my advice would be to stay organized and plan ahead. Be able to roll with the punches and do things on the fly.
If you were in the position to hire new graduates, what would you look for in them?
If I were looking to hire a full-time sports staff writer under me, a top candidate would be able to write, have at least two years of freelance work with a media outlet under their belt, be able to take photos, and have a passion for not only sports but telling stories. New graduates need to have experience covering live games, taking their own stats, and practice in interviewing coaches and players.
Was there anything specific that you learned while attending UNG that has been especially beneficial in your career?
UNG gave me a small taste of just how competitive the market is. It showed me early on that I needed to find a way to make myself stand out amongst the many other sports writers looking to do the exact same thing that I am currently doing. UNG was a great place to go to school and reach my goals of becoming a sports editor, not just because of the teaching, but because of the classroom sizes. Bigger universities, such as UGA, aren’t needed to make it in this field. If anything, it can make it more difficult if you don’t have the drive to get out and start freelancing. UNG currently has three full-time sports editors working in the state of Georgia, that I know of. That tells you everything that you need to know.