With so many video games to cowl every season, the younger reporters on the Insurgent Report – UNLV’s student-run sports activities broadcast and social media channel – are certain to make their mark. Junior Dominic Lavoie is likely one of the UNLV college students making his mark on the earth of sports activities journalism.
What impressed you to pursue sports activities journalism?
One random day after I was 13, I used to be taking part in an NHL online game with one among my pals and we made our personal groups. We put them towards one another and let the computer systems play towards one another. I checked out it as a simulation sport and began doing a play-by-play and thought, “That is actually enjoyable. I like doing this”. That is when it hit me – I need to do that for the remainder of my life.
So I began following him. I used to be on the varsity newspaper in highschool and began writing articles for them. And in 2021, I began entering into video and enhancing. And since then, I’ve sort of completed my factor [sports coverage] on the digital camera.
When did you first get entangled with Insurgent Report?
I joined within the spring of 2021 — I wrote articles all through 2021, after which on the finish of 2021 I began switching to video. I noticed that I used to be writing my articles the identical manner I might write my screenplays. I already had the mindset of writing for broadcast, so I needed to do extra of that.
It was onerous to get into video at first, however the factor that raised my sport to the place I’m now was after I began working at a information station and speaking to individuals within the broadcasting business and selecting their brains about something. It was a troublesome transition, studying the right way to be in entrance of the digital camera – you are your individual worst critic, you take a look at your self within the digital camera and assume, “Why did you progress like that?” Over time I received used to myself and listening to my very own voice and accepting that if I wasn’t doing an excellent job, there was one other sport to cowl to be higher.
What sort of recommendation did you get that helped you’re feeling extra comfy in entrance of the digital camera?
You need to be actually excited as a result of sports activities are enjoyable and you need to act such as you’re speaking to your pal and also you’re telling your pal what occurred on the UNLV basketball sport or the hockey sport or the Raiders sport final week. Truthfully, the most important factor that helped me chill out was not enthusiastic about it. Cease making an attempt to be a brilliant wound information reporter and have enjoyable and simply act such as you love what you are doing and act such as you’re telling your finest pal.
What are a number of the most memorable video games or occasions you’ve got coated for Insurgent Report?
When the Raiders performed the Patriots this season. My household is from New England and I grew up a Patriots fan, so being at a Patriots sport was actually cool. After which the best way the sport ended, when cornerback Jakobi Meyers who was picked off by Chandler Jones and who stuffed Mac Jones within the floor and returned it for a landing and received the sport. That may positively be a staple reminiscence for me.
And my first NHL sport I coated. I grew up a hockey fan and solely had CHL hockey right here my entire life. I by no means thought we would get an NHL franchise right here and be capable to be within the press field at an NHL sport and rub shoulders with writers I comply with on Twitter and go play-by-play announcers on whose development I watched on TV was a “wow” second.
Is there something specifically that you simply actually take pleasure in about reside hits and being a part of the environment of a sport?
I believe the love for it comes from taking part in a little bit of the game and feeling a sporting second the place you are there and treating it prefer it’s the one likelihood you may ever get. It is like that thrill you get particularly after a very good shot the place you say, “I nailed it.”
What do your future targets appear to be in sports activities journalism?
Proper now, I am sort of in between doing play-by-play and being an area TV sports activities reporter – I would like to do each. I see myself working in Boston as a result of it is so particular and there is a lot happening on a regular basis. I like being within the metropolis. I like the sports activities tradition there and I’ve household there. Actually within the subsequent ten years I hope to be working at a community like ESPN or NBC, making actually, actually good cash and sporting cool fits.