When Krystin Collins applied to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she knew she wanted to hit the ground running on her path toward a career in sports media.
For Collins, this meant studying in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications as a a double major in broadcasting and sports media and communications. She also joined UNLimited Sports, an Experience Lab program that allows students to pursue their passions in the sporting industry.
Collins, a senior, shared how she has been able to hone her skills and build a community in the program.
Why did you apply to Nebraska and what intrigued you about the College of Journalism and Mass Communications?
I applied to Nebraska because I wanted the opportunity to get hands-on experience right from the start. I had people from my high school who were in the College of Journalism and talked about how it had opened different doors for them in their careers. I was told about HuskerVision, the new studio built in the college, as well as other off-campus internships. All these things sounded really intriguing to me because I wanted to hit the ground running as soon as I came to UNL.
How would you describe UNLimited Sports to someone who has not heard of it and may be interested?
UNLimited Sports is the best opportunity to dip your toes into the realm of sports media and find out what interests you. That can range from podcasting, writing stories to sports photography and more. Coming to college, people may know that they want to work in this field but aren’t quite sure where to go from there. This class helps people try new things and find out what works and doesn’t work for them. It’s also a great opportunity to help build students’ portfolios to help with jobs and internships down the road.
How did you become involved in UNLimited Sports? Why did this specific opportunity excite you?
I worked in sports media when I was in high school, so when I got to UNL and was told about the Experience Lab, UNLimited Sports felt like the obvious choice. I wanted to continue working in that field and get more experience at a higher level. I signed up for the class and really enjoyed it. I went to numerous games that semester to take photos and then create photo stories. Those helped build my portfolio and work toward getting internships. Another really exciting part of UNLimited Sports to me was the availability to cover Husker sports early on. That is not a common experience at every college, especially not at other colleges in Nebraska, which helps better prepare you for a job with real-world experiences.
What is the value of combining knowledge from the classroom and real-world experience through UNLimited Sports? How has it expanded your knowledge outside of the classroom?
UNLimited Sports is a great bridge between learning in the classroom and getting real-world experiences. Taking classes, like the sports writing class, helps with learning how to write a game story, cover a press conference and more. Then, this lab allows students to use the skills they are learning and go to a high school football game to write a story and publish it, and that’s just one example. Everything learned in the classroom can be used right away when going out to cover games. This helps with repetition and learning how to fine-tune those skills.
UNLimited Sports has expanded my knowledge of what it is like to work in this field. I understand how to act and what to do when going to cover games. There are places you can and can’t go, expectations and certain spots to sit to get the best photos. These are all things that we talk about in the lab, but it is really understood after going to games and being a reporter yourself. My confidence in covering games increased after being in UNLimited Sports because of all the things I learned and the opportunities I had to go out and try to cover games myself. Being a lead, I have also learned skills about leading a team and how to work with other experience labs. Those are skills that I can use in multiple areas of my life outside of the classroom.
What is your favorite part about UNLimited Sports and the college?
My favorite part is the opportunity to go to games and start covering sports right away. You learn really fast whether this is something you want to keep doing or not. I also love the different networking opportunities within the Experience Labs and the college. The professionals in residence that the college brings in are incredible people to network with and learn about experiences working in different fields. Those professional relationships can also lead to mentorships and possibly even internships for students down the road if people take advantage of getting to work with those individuals.
How will your studies and UNLimited Sports prepare you for a career outside of college?
During my time with UNLimited Sports, I was able to learn exactly what areas interested me the most but also prepare myself for other areas in sports media to at least know the basics. In this field, you have to be able to do a little bit of everything. That doesn’t mean you have to be an expert, but you have to be willing to learn. The lab allowed me to try out different things, such as print, photos, social media and more. Those experiences gave me foundational knowledge that will help me in my career. I also now have portfolio items to showcase my skills to future employers.
Is there anyone at Nebraska who has had an impact on your time here?
Someone who has impacted my time at Nebraska is Bill Doleman (lecturer in the college). I have had multiple classes with Bill and his knowledge in this field is incredible. He really takes the time to get to know each of his students to learn what they are interested in and how he can best help them with their career goals. I know if I have questions about the industry or need someone to help me prepare for an interview, he is someone I can always go to.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
I am currently an intern with HuskerVision and have produced games on B1G+ and I have produced big-screen content for many different sports. I would love to continue to do that after graduation.
Do you have any advice for students looking to gain hands-on experience or dive into involvements on campus?
Don’t be afraid to ask. The best way to get involved is to get to know people and see what they are doing or how they got the job or goal you hope to achieve. Ask them where they started or ask a professor for help finding a way to get involved. There are so many opportunities out there, you just have to be willing to ask and go look for them.
