Elizabeth Keen. Communication: Broadcast and Digital Journalism

My name is Elizabeth Keen, and I am a senior in the Department of Communication with a concentration in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. My career plans as a child were always very scattered, but once I reached high school, I developed a love for all things relating to sports. I was a strong writer throughout my teenage years and enjoyed attempting to take pictures at my high school’s sporting events when I served as our yearbook editor as a senior. Eventually, these passions of mine combined, and I set my sights on telling stories about the sports that I love.

I initially selected BaDJ as my concentration because I was convinced that I wanted to be on TV one day. I knew that I’d receive wonderful writing experience in whichever concentration I chose, and in my eyes, I could take my career to the next level by learning how to cover sports on camera. I wanted to be the next Laura Rutledge or Erin Andrews — two of my favorite female sports reporters — and was determined to get there. However, when it came time to speak into a camera for the first time, I realized that I still had a long way to go before I would be comfortable enough to talk as if I was just having a conversation with friends. I decided to focus primarily on writing and hoped that I’d eventually learn to work out my nerves.

At the beginning of my sophomore year, I was hired to join the sports staff at the Reflector and was elated that I was finally going to get a chance to cover a sporting event like a real journalist does. I’ll never forget my first football game: it was a hot September afternoon, and I recorded stats by hand in a notebook because I did not realize that I could bring my backpack and laptop into the press box. It was the most exciting thing in the world to me, but I was presented with another opportunity just one month later that made that first game seem like nothing. I saw a post on Twitter advertising open internships for Cowbell Corner, Mississippi State’s Sports Illustrated site, and I jumped at the chance to write for one of the biggest sports news companies in the world. I was brought on, and for nearly 16 months, my life consisted of attending every MSU sporting event that I could across the Southeast, writing multiple articles each day and eventually serving as a full-fledged staff writer and assistant editor.

I chose to leave Cowbell Corner at the beginning of 2023, but I was worried that there would be nowhere else for me to write. Turns out, I would not have to wait long: Mississippi State Athletic Communications reached out and asked me to join its student program. The department wanted to use me to start a new position group of student writers, something that it had never done before. So far, I have worked closely with senior writers to create features about individual athletes and teams and also write game recaps for live events. Being part of athletic communications is one of the best things that I have ever done, and it’s helped me gain unique experience as I make my way through BaDJ.

One thing I love about BaDJ is that I am constantly being engaged and pushed to be the best that I can be. Rather than sitting around and taking notes on lectures, I have the opportunity to do hands-on work and receive feedback about what I’m doing well and what I could work on. I feel like I’ve learned more than I ever could imagine, from how to operate a photo camera manually to how to put together a package with exciting b-roll and audio. I’m also growing as a person and future journalist; my classes are slowly building on each other, and as a result, I’ve become much more confident in my abilities. For example, in Broadcast Capstone, I recently went through auditions to be our sports anchor and realized that being on camera feels much more exciting and comfortable than it did two years ago.

I took Photographic Communication during the last fall semester, and I learned to love photography even more than I already did. Two of our projects centered around feature photographs: pictures that can tell a story without any words. New Orleans has always been my most favorite place in the world, so when I went down there for a long weekend, I took my camera in hopes of getting some great pictures for the projects. It was easy to find things to take pictures of: street performers lingered everywhere, the architecture was beautiful as always and a fire hydrant had even flooded the street. Capturing those moments and then seeing the transformation that occurred when I edited them made me feel really proud of the work I had done.

Out of all of the different forms of media I have done, my favorites are writing and photography. I can ramble and be wordy, although it’s definitely much easier to do so when I’m talking about things I am passionate about. At the bare minimum, I enjoy using words and stringing together sentences, even if it’s about something I’m not super interested in. In my previous class, I realized that I loved just about any type of photography once I learned how to work my camera manually and make appealing edits. I have gotten a stronger lens and am working on getting better in my free time.

In this class, I would like to learn how to better assemble a complete story. I’m used to writing, but I feel like learning how to incorporate photography and videography into the stories I tell would be a valuable skill to have. Photos and videos make a story feel more complete, and they give readers a deeper look into the subjects that are covered. I want to know the right things to incorporate into text, and why they belong where they do. I also hope to get at least a little bit stronger in all areas.

Once I graduate in the May, I hope to have a job lined up or at least have a good idea of where I’m going. I’ve started applying for different positions, but most of the ones that are open right now are looking to hire immediately. I’m currently looking into going into sports journalism for a website or paper, but I have also considered trying to work in communications for an athletic department or specific franchise. Depending on how well my capstone class goes, I could also consider positions within news stations. If there’s one thing I do know for sure, it’s that I want to stay in the South if at all possible.

My ultimate goal is to work my way up in the industry and eventually cover college sports for a major network, no matter which route I take. I hope to travel the country, covering the biggest games and providing the best possible coverage to those who love sports as much as I do. There are countless organizations out there to write for, and no matter where I end up, I am sure that I will be happy to tell every story that I can. If I ultimately decide to pursue a role on camera, I hope to work for SEC Network as a sideline reporter or a host. The classes that I’ve taken at Mississippi State and the opportunities that I have had in the field have helped to prepare me for the real world, and I feel confident that I am ready to take the next step forward.

Email me at efk34@msstate.edu with any questions.