April 11, 2011
Journalism Grad 'Networks,' Lands ESPN job
A three-year internship in USC Athletics and a senior-year intern opportunity at “the worldwide leader in sports” paid dividends for Laura Goldman, ’09, broadcast journalism.
She found her “dream job” at ESPN, working in the Social Media Department to produce and launch continuous content on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. It’s a job that involves plenty of on-camera interviewing, such as a recent assignment interviewing New York Jets players following a practice.
“I want current students to realize that if they put their mind to something, they can make it happen,” she says.
Paying Forward on the Promise of Carolina
Buoyed by her early career success, Goldman is making it a point to give back. Her unrestricted gift to the Carolina Fund, part of the University of South Carolina Annual Fund, will help ensure that other students receive the same kind of learning and internship opportunities she did.
“Money is an issue not just for students, but for a lot of us younger grads, so putting your University before yourself is an amazing and valiant way to show your allegiance and devotion,” she says. Aware that more than 47,000 alumni and friends made gifts to Carolina last year, she believes that will only make her University “bigger and better.”
“I am the epitome of what it is to make the most of your experience at the University of South Carolina,” says Goldman, a native of Greenville, S.C. “Networking is key when venturing out into the ‘real world’ after college and landing that first big job. The University of South Carolina has a great journalism school, and I used all my resources as an intern to meet prominent members of the Athletics Department.”
Carolina Grads Tout Gamecock Success at ESPN
Goldman resides in Farmington, Conn., located just outside ESPN headquarters in Bristol. Her roommate is fellow ESPN employee and Carolina graduate Maddy Foust, ’07, broadcast journalism. The two make it a point to let their ESPN colleagues understand how deep Gamecock pride runs: It’s one big, success-driven family called “Gamecock Nation.”
"I am the epitome of what it is to make the most of your experience at the University of South Carolina."
—Laura Goldman, '09
“What’s neat about my job in social networking at ESPN is that it’s so similar to what I did for GamecocksOnline.com, except on a larger scale,” Goldman says.
During her senior year, broadcast journalism teachers Richard Moore, Harvie Nachlinger, and Rick Peterson turned her all-day class “into one big local newsroom,” another reason she believes ESPN opened its door to her. The “9 to 5 class” is the Senior Semester program.
Not shy of sports participation while a student, Goldman played on “Shake ‘n Bake,” an intramural co-ed flag football team that went undefeated, winning the campus championship her senior year. “It was another proud moment to be a Gamecock for life.”
–Larry Di Giovanni
