Hi friends,
Danielle Hunt, aka "The Sports Brat", returns for the part 2 of her blog on her non-traditional path to the industry. Don't forget to follow her on Instagram and check out her website for more. Enjoy!
DANIELLE HUNT, THE SPORTS BRAT
I used to think that the only way I’d truly be a woman in sports was if I was working for a professional team or on the sideline reporting for a network. I’ll never forget where I was when a colleague messaged me asking if I was interested in covering women’s basketball. It was 6:05 in the morning and I was driving to my day job teaching English. I was excited and ready to take on something new since I had mainly been covering MLB, NBA, NFL, and NCAAF on my own. This time, Oklahoma City wanted me to cover the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. That meant media credentials and all. I had “made it”. I was on the sideline shooting videos for Instagram and creating on my own all throughout the tournament. You best believe I saved that media credential! I now have it hanging with my WCWS credential amongst some others I’ve received over my TSB years. Immediately after Oklahoma City, I was with Toyota for MLB Spring Training in Arizona. I haven’t looked back since. When I’m not covering specific events, I partner with brands like Home Depot, Jim Beam, Sonic, Whataburger and more creating my own tailgates and home-gates. I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s so much fun and I have the power to say what goes on my platform. If I don’t like something, I don’t do it. If I’m bored by particular content or stressed out by the algorithms, I can take a break, change it up, and pick back up feeling refreshed. It does get tough. It’s not easy. There are many times I’ve had to reshoot because a brand hated what I produced, or my content didn’t quite meet their expectations.
I want you to know that you don’t have to take the traditional route to sports media. I know plenty of people in the sports industry who did not start their careers there. They are now photographers, videographers, and content creators like me. It’s perfectly fine to dial it back and find the route that suits you. If you don’t want to be on the sideline, don’t be on the sideline. This is absolutely no shade, I just know myself, I’d much rather be talking trash to the opposing fans and enjoying the festivities at the tailgate.
If you think the content creation route is for you, I challenge you to think about this: are you going to focus on written, video, photo, audio, or a hybrid of content? Do you want to have a podcast or stream? Where are you going to put everything? Blog? Twitch? Youtube? Instagram? TikTok? What is right for what you want? There are so many things to consider. Take the time to map it out and go for it. Content creators have so much flexibility with what we can do.
And here’s the deal. I don’t aspire to be Maria Taylor or anyone else that’s on TV. I love blogging. I love having my own platform and creating and doing all of the things that make me happy. Sure, the hustle of it all can get frustrating and the ever-changing landscape of Instagram can make it harder, but that’s why I love this so much. I get to have my passion, and teach it at the same time. There are times I wish I was a full-time sports content creator, but right now that’s not the case. However, I’m teaching future journalists that may be a Maria Taylor one day and creating content all the time. You don’t have to do things like everyone else. If you want to create your own sports talk show - do it. If you want to be a sideline reporter - do it. Just know that you don’t have to do things the traditional way. I never thought I would be here reporting on the gameday landscape in various cities. I am a woman in sports. I’m not a reporter for a team or network. I’m a reporter for the fans.
And I love it.
---- Danielle
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