Journalist Spotlight | Interview with Dane Heverin, Digital Reporter at Fox Sports

Hi Dane! Thanks again for your time! Can you tell us about your role as a Digital Reporter? What does your media cycle look like and how far in advance do you have to plan for content?

I am part of the General team within Fox Sports Australia's Digital team. That means I write about an array of sports where many of my colleagues are dedicated to one or two sports. So far I've written for Fox Sports about AFL, cricket, golf, soccer, netball, tennis, motorsport, NFL and UFC so it really is a broad mix. I do several early starts to pick up news that's been happening around the world overnight, but I also do some more regular hours to focus on bigger, deeper pieces which can be planned anywhere between a day and weeks in advance.

You began your career in marketing and comms and I was wondering what your experience has been in transitioning to journalism. How have these previous roles prepared you for your current position? And have you always wanted a career in journalism?

Yes, I have always wanted to be a journalist. That's why I completed a Master of Journalism at the University of Melbourne. My previous roles helped me understand digital media as well as the broader media landscape better, while also improving my writing skills as I gained more experience.

I’m also curious about your stint as a freelance sports reporter for News Corp Australia. How did you start freelancing and what’s your advice for other writers/journalists who want to break into the media industry?

I started freelancing when I returned to Melbourne after a six month stint travelling overseas. I was lucky enough to pick up work covering the Men's and Women's Big Bash cricket as well as the NBL over the summer for NCA NewsWire through a contact from when I worked at Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia. I also got a job working three days a week for Gymnastics Australia during this week time, and in winter my work for NCA NewsWire became reporting on AFL and Super Netball matches. My advice to others would be to put your hand up for everything and give different things a go. I was not an expert on basketball, netball or gymnastics but I learned and said yes to new opportunities.

What are some of the stories/perspectives you would like to write about more? And how has making a career out of your passion changed your relationship with sports? Or vice versa?

I would like to write more about positive stories that are changing the sporting landscape. Development and innovation to advance the technological aspects of sport, or stories dealing with climate-related issues and many more instances of people improving the sporting environment are fascinating to me. I have always been a lover of sport but working in the industry has given me the privilege of seeing how much sport means to other people, and it is special to be able to contribute in some way to people's passions.

Do you have any upcoming projects coming up that we should be looking out for? Alternatively, are there any special events/dates that will plan or look out for content?

Not at the moment. I am only very early into my time at Fox Sports, so I am gaining a lot of experience in the day-to-day work at present rather than working on any bigger projects. Any sporting event that is of interest to our readers is on my radar.

Finally, what makes for a good pitch? How do you make yours stand out and what should journos avoid doing?

Simplicity and relevancy. Make the pitch as clear as possible as to what the story is about, and ensure that it is relevant to what we do at Fox Sports.