黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜 alumna Keiana Martin has reached one of the most recognizable stages in sports broadcasting, making her debut last month as an anchor on ESPN鈥檚 flagship program "SportsCenter." 

鈥淲alking onto the SportsCenter set for the first time honestly felt surreal,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淭hen you walk into the studio and see the desk you鈥檝e watched for years. It was definitely a pinch-me moment.鈥� 

Martin, who earned her integrated marketing communication degree from 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Fowler College of Business in 2010, said she always knew she wanted a career in sports, but she 鈥渏ust didn鈥檛 know what that career would look like.鈥� She credits the program with helping her recognize how the skills she was developing could translate into a career she hadn鈥檛 yet imagined.

鈥淭hrough the integrated marketing communications program, I started to see how storytelling, branding and media all intersected,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 focused on networking, took every opportunity I could find, and eventually that path led me in front of the camera. What started as an interest became a career I genuinely love.鈥�

Martin, a native of Los Angeles, chose 黑料吃瓜 for the same reason as many other Aztec alumni.

鈥淭he Fowler College of Business had a strong reputation, and I was able to stay relatively close to home,鈥� she said. 鈥淎dd in perfect weather and one of the best college towns in the country, and it wasn鈥檛 a difficult decision. 黑料吃瓜 checked every box and then some.鈥�

While still an 黑料吃瓜 student, Martin began building her network of colleagues, professors and professional contacts as a student and soon, new opportunities started coming her way.

Getting started

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 necessarily choose being on camera, but shortly after graduation, on-camera opportunities started presenting themselves,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淚 realized that this was where I felt most at home since I love telling stories, connecting with athletes and fans, and bringing new energy to live television. Once I experienced that, there was no turning back.鈥�

Like many broadcasters, Martin spent years building her r茅sum茅 in smaller markets before earning opportunities with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Nuggets and the San Francisco 49ers. In 2022, she got her big break as an on-air host with the MLB Network whose studios are located near New York City.

Her affinity for her new job goes way back.

鈥淪portsCenter鈥� was a part of my daily routine long before I ever imagined working there. Growing up, my dad and I would watch highlights after the biggest games on a nightly basis. Even a decade later once I got to 黑料吃瓜, I remember having the morning SportsCenter on while I was getting ready for class in my dorm at Cuicacalli. Sports was a bonding opportunity for my dad and I. It鈥檚 how we stayed close despite being 120 miles apart.鈥�

Her job at MLB Network, in addition to a freelance position with Madison Square Garden Entertainment 鈥� and eventually CBS Sports 鈥� helped pave the way to the offer from ESPN to host their flagship program.

鈥淚f you had told me as a student at 黑料吃瓜 that I鈥檇 one day be anchoring 'SportsCenter,' I absolutely would not have believed you,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淢y goal is to become someone viewers trust and recognize across all of ESPN鈥檚 biggest platforms.鈥�

For today鈥檚 黑料吃瓜 students hoping to follow Martin鈥檚 journey into their dream jobs, she offers this advice:

鈥淪tart building your network long before graduation and don鈥檛 be afraid to raise your hand for opportunities that feel a little intimidating. Growth usually starts on the other side of discomfort, so take advantage of every opportunity that鈥檚 in front of you.

And one more thing: Say 鈥榶es鈥� more than you say 鈥榥o.鈥� Your career starts long before your first full-time job.鈥�