beIN SPORTS USA

As someone working my way up in soccer journalism, landing a job with a major network in the summer of a World Cup year felt like a huge accomplishment.

I joined beIN SPORTS — a leading international broadcaster that specialized in soccer — in 2018 and moved down to work out of their Miami studios ahead of that year’s Men’s World Cup. While beIN wasn’t the tournament’s U.S. broadcaster, a World Cup draws so many eyeballs it’s a huge opportunity for any outlet. Our big digital initiative was producing a Facebook Live streaming show at halftime and post-game of every single match. I was one of three digital leads who produced the shows, relayed fan questions, and teed up analysis from our commentators.

Beyond that, I was generally part of a small team responsible for all digital content and social media at the network.

During the week we would edit and post web articles, schedule out all social channels, and assist in production with digital video shows. On weekends we would provide live digital match coverage, clipping video highlights and driving substantial traffic using a social media following over 1.5M across Facebook and Twitter. I also cut our nightly TV shows into digital and social packages, and helped write scripts for digital-first video content.

While I was there, beIN SPORTS was the U.S. rightsholder for LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Copa Libertadores, AFCON, and more. I like to believe that if I can handle the social media antics (vitriol) of Barcelona and Real Madrid fans, I can handle anything in the world of social media.

Eventually I left beIN to take an opportunity back in Chicago, where I wanted to be for personal reasons, which also let me expand my editorial scope.