Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Johnson.
Hi Autumn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Once basketball ended for me, I tried to find ways to stay around the game. I was a basketball manager at Kennesaw State to remain in a team environment. I also had aspirations of becoming an athletic trainer, so I would do some shadowing at our practices and games. I quickly found out that I wasn’t passionate about either. I was so lost in college without basketball that I started to try out new things to see what I liked and discover who I am without a ball in my hands. One day, I stumbled across a broadcasting bootcamp hosted by Ryan Cameron. There was a sports panel and a broadcaster named Rachel Baribeau who talked about how she talks about sports for a living and shared athletes’ stories. That sparked a flame in me and it’s been burning in me ever since then. I didn’t know how to start, so I rented out a camera from our technology center and interviewed some of the players on KSU’s women’s basketball team and showed it to the video department. They saw my potential…literally potential because I was TERRIBLE….and allowed me to get some reps in as an ESPN+ sideline reporter. From there, I constantly networked at sporting events in Atlanta and it helped me venture out to work with R3play.TV as a digital reporter, SB Nation as a writer and Turner Sports as a production runner. Now in my 6th year of my career, I’m a host for the NBA 2K League and an analyst/reporter for Big Ten Network and NCAA Digital. I’ve also had an opportunity to work for Atlanta Dream as their sideline reporter for Bally Sports South. I couldn’t have landed ANY of these without networking and putting my work out there on social media. Plus, I constantly want to get better, so I’ve always searched for new ways and opportunities to grow. I’ve been living out my dream every single day, and I absolutely love it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road has been far from smooth. But every bump in the road has helped me grow as the broadcaster and woman I am today. I’ve had hiring managers tear me and my work down, I’ve gotten several no’s…and I’ve even been denied opportunities based off of being a black woman. I’ve had my fair share of tears in this industry, but I needed those experiences. Every obstacle or challenge has showed me how strong and resilient I actually am. Every ‘no’ has showed me how determined I am to keep working until I hear the RIGHT yes. And most importantly, I’ve learned along the way that I’m enough and belong in any room that I walk in. Those struggles will never turn me away from what I’m passionate about.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I cover hoops for a living. I’m a host for the NBA 2K League and I cover women’s basketball for Big Ten Network and NCAA Digital. I would’ve never thought I’d say any of those this early in my career, and I never take that for granted. I’m proud of where I started, how far I’ve came and where I’m going. Passion is what drives me and my work ethic is unmatched. I believe that’s what makes me special.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can collab & connect with me and even support me by following me on @autumnjohnsontv on all social platforms. I believe having community is important, and I would love to support anyone along the way in their journey as well. If you’re in the journalism/broadcasting field, let’s help each other.
Contact Info:
- Email: autumnjohnsontv@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autumnjohnson.tv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autumn.r.johnson
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/autumnjohnsontv
