Meet Justin Evans | Sports Journalist and Freelance Photographer/Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Evans and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
My passion started during my junior year of high school. I had big aspirations of being a basketball player, but I got cut after the second day of tryouts. That same night I talked to my mom about wanting to broadcast and do play-by-play for the basketball team. She gave me the idea of emailing and reaching out to my athletic director to make the idea a reality. A week later after emailing my high school athletic director Mrs. Green, I was in her office discussing the details of what I would be doing for the basketball games. She told me that no other student asked her to do a role like this one and was not sure at first on how to really fit me into broadcasting games. So, her idea was having me announce the starting lineup for the girls’ basketball games. Shortly after that experience, it turned into other sports such as volleyball and boys’ basketball later throughout the year. Fast forward a year later and I did the same thing, except this time our school had the budget to live stream games. This allowed me to do my first play-by-play game, and I fell in love with doing it every time I was asked to do so. During that same year I decided to write for my school newspaper, I was the co-editor of the sports section. I took photos and did player interviews that year for multiple sports such as football, track, and baseball later in the year. This was my first time working with other student editors, while also having our journalism teacher who was the main manager of the school newspaper watch over our work and give feedback as we go along. The biggest example of teamwork was creating the senior week news article to highlight our graduating seniors. I had the biggest responsibility of effectively communicating interviews and pictures to our chief editor and editor of the project. I did a lot of working getting interviews and taking photos for the newspaper. Which created one of the most heavily read articles during the year, I was so proud of myself and my team for helping me get the project off the ground!
When I attended Morehouse a year later, they did not have Sports Journalism as a major. It was a minor for the first ten years of its existence, in 2021 they changed to become its own full-fledged program. Once it became a Major, I switched from communications to Sports Journalism. During my junior year I also joined my school newspaper and work for the sports news section.
I knew once I switched over, I wanted to have career being a sports reporter/broadcaster. My dream is to work for ESPN and represent those of color, I would want to show those that it is possible to have career and reach your dreams in this field.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I feel what separates me from others is my ability to create things on what I see! I am most proud of creating my edits for Bally Sports and other companies! It was definitely a process! I appreciate my mentors and parents for teaching me the necessary skills to be successful! I want to know the world to know that I have a huge passion for journalism! My Ddeam goal it to be a sports anchor on ESPN!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream, I am huge ice cream fan. I love getting their 10 oz sized “Ridiculous” shake for all of my sweet tooth needs. If you need a good quick bite to eat I love going to cookout for a cheap college friendly meal after 12 a.m., which are my productive hours when I am writing or editing!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
For starters, I would not be here with my Mom and Dad, they are my everything. Also I want to thank Professor Ron Thomas of the Journalism Department for giving me the opportunities that was given to me. I had an opportunity to Intern at Bally Sports Southeast as a Production intern!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evans_digital/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-evans-b95b2a174/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/justinoo___

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100026447451078

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNzAOzVOKXacHXLn7rHpxg