Ben Heisler

Major: Journalism

Years at IU: 2006-2010

What he did at IU: I focused a lot on writing. I was involved in WIUX and IUSTV. I ended up on the board of directors of WIUX running the sports department. For IUSTV, I anchored Hoosier Sports Night. Then we started a new segment called the Run Down. I had a ton of good classes, professors, and opportunities. I had internships that helped too because I did a ton of networking through those.

What he does now:  Since I left IU in the Spring of 2010, I’ve been fortunate enough to do hold all of the following positions in an ever-changing media landscape: Play-by-Play Broadcaster, Producer, Executive Producer, On-Air Talent, Director of Media, Podcaster, Fantasy Insider, and now Sports Wagering Insider & Director of Content. Each position may not have been what I set out to do at that time, but I’m fortunate to have been able to network across a wide variety of people and continue to grow in this field. Plus, in the event that you ever want to return to something specific, I can say it was something I had on my resume!

What advice he has for sports media students: The biggest thing would be don’t be afraid to take chances; try out as many things as you can especially in college, and remember media is always changing. The most important thing you can be is a well-rounded interesting person. Be able to know how to write and speak because media jobs expect you to know how to do everything. Also, having a versatile skill set will go a long way for you and make life easier.