By: Cameron Pellegrino '27
Breaking into the sports industry can feel a lot like a sport itself, considering the competitive nature and the high-stakes nature of the field. Talent is important, but timing and effort is paramount. UMass Journalism’s sports concentration gives students a head start in that realm, offering hands-on experience covering games and producing live broadcasts to prepare them for the fast-paced and demanding world of sports media.
Dominic Proietti ‘25 took full advantage of the real-world production experience the department provided, and he saw immediate results. Over the course of his three years at UMass, he worked over 170 games, building an undeniable resume and practical expertise in that time. While he entered the interview process stressed, he became more confident knowing the experience he already had under his belt.
He applied for the position of video production coordinator at Boston University on Aug. 2, and he heard back from the assistant athletic director the very next day. The turnaround was extremely quick, as Proietti scheduled an interview for Aug. 4.
“We talked on the phone for 15 minutes about the position and what it would entail, what type of systems they used and stuff of that sort,” Proietti said. “This was when I decided to really sell myself as being someone who has been around this type of business. I asked a lot of questions about the equipment and how they conduct things on an everyday basis.”
When BU called him back, Proietti used his knowledge from being a teacher’s assistant and running broadcasts to explain how he would be a perfect fit for their position. Drew Holtgrieve, UMass’ director of video production, received a call the following week asking to confirm the legitimacy of Proietti’s resume.
"I received a phone call back within 20 minutes with a job offer,” Proietti said. “Huge shout out to UMass, as I believe they have created a great journalism program that focuses on getting students into the fields that they aspire to work in.”
In his role, Proietti is in charge of conducting media days for the athletic teams, creating video content and advertisements for games and managing live broadcasts for ESPN+. His rapid ascension from student to professional highlights how UMass Journalism equips its graduates with the experience and confidence to excel in the competitive sports media landscape straight away.
Josh Schreiber ‘25’s post-graduation path has been entirely different, but he’s found his way into the sports media world just months after graduating as well. Instead of moving directly into a single position, he has opted for a multi-role approach. His versatility shows potential employers that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
“I’m actually working a whole bunch of jobs right now part-time,” Schreiber said. “I think the biggest thing for me has been taking advantage of my network and not saying no to any opportunity because you never know what it’s going to lead to.”
His story also shows how sports media is a field that often requires geographical flexibility, and how graduates can take advantage of it. While opportunities may not exist in every location, this gives them the chance to get out of their comfort zones and gain experience in new cities.
Currently, Schreiber wears multiple hats in the sports world: he works as a production assistant for NC State Athletics, serves as event staff at the University of North Carolina, collects Wake Forest football data for DraftKings and creates content for a Buffalo Bills YouTube channel called “Bills Digest.”
“I’ve worked for seven different companies or schools in about two months since living in North Carolina, plus I’ve shadowed people in other jobs,” Schreiber said. “It’s a lot of effort, but it makes people see that you’re willing to do what it takes.”