Member Spotlight: Daily Texan Writer Christina Huang
Christina Huang, MC ’20, is a Daily Texan sports writer at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as an amazing sister and member of multiple teams within the Beta Alpha chapter. Since her joining Alpha Xi, we have had the opportunity to watch her grow into the amazingly talented woman she is now. We can’t wait to see where she goes in the next two years both within the chapter and in her journalism role, and are so excited to get an insight into her position on the Daily Texan!
What made you passionate about sports writing?
I’ve always had a love for writing. When I was in kindergarten I would write fictional stories for fun; I was briefly a movie reviewer for a small website in middle school. I had to learn the rules of football in high school since I was on drumline and needed to know when to play certain cadences. We had special drum cadences that had to be played during kickoff and when our team was on defense. Being forced to learn football made me learn to love the sport. I wanted to keep writing during the pandemic, so I found an opening at a sports media outlet and began sports writing. I love how chaotic the sports world can be and I love seeking out human interest stories and seeing athletes beyond their respective sports.
What has been the most surprising thing about what you do?
I think the most surprising thing that I’ve learned about sports journalism is the pace that everything moves at. Once a game is over, you are typically writing your piece about it and getting it out as quickly as possible. It’s so important to find the narrative of the game you’re covering and to commit to it in your piece. In general, there is not a dull moment in this industry since there is always something new in the sports world. But I think one of the things that initially drew me into this field was the fast pace, so I can’t say that I don’t love how things are.
What do you hope this opportunity leads to in the future?
I would love to work at a big media outlet in the future. I honestly really love covering college athletics because of how unpredictable things can be so I would love to continue my coverage of collegiate sports after I graduate.
How has being in a sorority helped you make connections, support you, etc?
One of my fellow Beta Alpha sisters, Emily Schumacher, is also one of my co-workers. I love being able to go to pitch meetings with Emily. She understands the process of sports writing and the challenges that come with being a woman in the industry, so I am more than grateful to have her on my side. I have also had the opportunity to connect with other Alpha Xis in the industry across the country. Being in a sorority has allowed me to cast a wider net when it comes to making professional connections.
Is it hard being a woman in this field?
I have yet to experience any blatant sexism from anyone working in the industry, but it is not hard to notice when you are the only woman in the room. However, knowing that I am usually greatly outnumbered by men has forced me to do my job better and to trust in myself and my abilities even more than I already do. I’ve had to learn to trust my decision making processes and really lean into myself and my values.
What do you hope other women know going into this field?
I hope that other women know that success is achievable in this field and that there are plenty of support systems to reach out to. There are so many resources out there if you just look for them. Established writers are more than happy to help out students if you simply ask. Even though there are not as many women in the field as men, the growing number of women is extremely encouraging. The women who are already in the industry have been nothing but helpful to me and understand the struggles of being female sportswriters. In general, there is so much support if you just decide to reach for it.
Check out some of Christina’s recently published articles below:
