Before you start bragging about the new babysitting gig you just got, you should hear about Kristin Whittaker’s job. Whittaker is a senior at USC who scored a broadcasting position at ESPNU. I met up with Whittaker to learn the ins and outs of what many would consider their “dream job,” and what a day in the life of an ESPNU employee looks like.
Last year, Whittaker was talking to one of her friends who was involved with ESPNU Campus Connections, a program that allows students to cover various university sporting events and do fun features on them. Once she heard about this, she knew she had to get involved. “This was exactly what I wanted to do, I just had to make it happen,” Whittaker said.
Whittaker has always been a sports aficionado. When asked what inspired her to venture into this field, she replied she’s grown up around sports her entire life and has a strong passion for this industry.
Whittaker may not get the typical college game day experience filled with non-stop tailgating and the fraternity lots, but the job does come with its own set of perks. At USC’s home opener game against Kentucky, she got to shoot a feature with USC’s marching band.
“I had to be up by 8 a.m. and I didn’t get home until after one in the morning. You’re looking at about a 15-hour day, not including editing, for a two minute video. But I got to ride in with the marching band and it was a ton of fun. I don’t get the same game day experience as everyone else, but it’s rewarding and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.
Whittaker said it can be difficult acting as a one-man band. She has to ask the questions, shoot the footage and edit the videos all by herself. Through this experience, Whittaker has learned all the different aspects of multi-media journalism. She has also gotten the opportunity to meet new people and create invaluable networking connections. She’s very thankful for the opportunities this job has provided her with thus far, and all the doors it has opened for the future.
After graduation, Whittaker’s goal is to get involved with the PGA Tour. She wants to make a difference in the golf world when it comes to women and broadcasting. No female has ever made a big step in that field, so that is her ultimate dream.
Since sports reporting is so competitive, I asked Whittaker if she has any advice for other students looking to follow in her footsteps. Her biggest piece of advice was to get involved as much as you can and really put yourself out there. The university has so many great organizations and opportunities. When Whittaker isn’t working with ESPNU Campus Connections, she reports for Capital City, a sports network through SGTV, and she works with WLTX, a Columbia news organization.
