Master’s in Sports Journalism graduate Tyler Locke
When Tyler Locke started in the Master’s in Sports Journalism program in 2019, he didn’t know much about what it took to be a journalist. In fact, he enrolled in the IU School of Liberal Arts program to undergo a career change.
During his short time with the Sports Capital Journalism Program at the Department of Journalism and Public Relations, Locke created content for the IUPUI Athletic Department; produced a campus sports TV show; and reported on the sidelines and hosted a show for the MIC Network. As a result of these experiences, he was able to land his first reporting job during the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, he started as a multimedia journalist at ABC57 News in South Bend.
“Thankfully, IUPUI taught me how to get to my current situation,” he said. “Writing, editing, on-camera, producing a show, conducting interviews, and storytelling are all skills the people at IUPUI helped me learn. I was able to start a TV show while on campus. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.”
Locke spends a lot of his time at ABC57 News researching high and low for story ideas to pitch, he says. Not surprisingly, he has been covering plenty of COVID-19 related stories.
“I find these stories interesting because I now have a real-world perspective of what residents are going through as compared to being in college and not being exposed to it as much,” he said.
The most interesting story he has covered so far, he says, was a luxury car auction with over 200 cars ranging upwards of $1 to $2 million, he said.
“[The cars] were previously owned by a local business tycoon who was found to obtain his wealth illegally and was forced to sell the cars as a result,” said Locke. “Hundreds of people flocked to the airport warehouse to bid on any luxury car you could think of. [The auction] was the first of its kind in the county I cover so it was a big deal here.”
Locke says he plans to make the most of the opportunity he has been given at ABC57 News.
“When I found out I got the job at ABC57, I was ecstatic and excited,” he said. “It was such a weight off my shoulders. [Broadcast journalism] is not the easiest field to get into so the fact that I was able to accomplish that during a pandemic was a blessing. [I believe] I was offered the job because I continued reaching out. It was more than just sending in an application. I stayed persistent and let them know I was ready and hungry. They recognized and liked that. Ultimately my persistence and dedication got me my position.”