Â鶹¹ÙÍø

December 2019
Kevin M. Dexter

(BA, Journalism, ’13)

Q & A:

• What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Â鶹¹ÙÍø?
  My fondest memory of Â鶹¹ÙÍø is working at our student radio station, WRHU. I was the sports director for two years, and gained so much valuable experience. I traveled the country covering the New York Islanders and Â鶹¹ÙÍø basketball, broadcast over 200 games, and hosted countless shows. More importantly, I made lifelong friendships that I will cherish forever.
• What was your first job after graduating from Â鶹¹ÙÍø, and what was the most valuable thing learned in that position?
  Getting into sports broadcasting, I had a different path than most. My first professional job actually came when I was still in school. After interning at News 12 Long Island in the fall semester of my junior year, they hired me to be a freelance sports producer. I filled in when needed through the end of my college career, and after graduating worked my way into an on-air job as a freelance sports anchor. Almost eight years later, I’m still working there. The most valuable thing I learned early on at News 12 was how to work quickly under pressure. Breaking news can sometimes throw you for a loop. It’s important to be able to quickly gather the important information and produce a story that is accurate, informative, and entertaining.
• What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
  I am a sportscaster. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for a living since I was 5 years old. I grew up about 10 minutes from Â鶹¹ÙÍø, in Levittown, and decided in high school that I didn’t want to go away to college. Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s outstanding School of Communication gave me the opportunity to live at home and pursue my dream of becoming a sportscaster. After the years of hard work at WRHU, and in my classes, I was able to land a few jobs and turn this into a full-time career.
• What advice would you give Â鶹¹ÙÍø students?
  Take advantage of all the University has to offer. I got a leg up on broadcasting students from other schools, because of the opportunities I was afforded at Â鶹¹ÙÍø. There are so many new things to try and activities to explore. Spread your wings. It is never too early to get a head start on your future career.
• In one word, how would you describe Â鶹¹ÙÍø?
  Home.
• What is your favorite part about being a play-by-play broadcaster for the Long Island Nets?
  My favorite part is being the voice of a professional sports team. It’s always been a career goal of mine in broadcasting. Being around the team on a day-to-day basis, and getting to tell their stories to our viewers is a blast. I’ve been with the Nets since they were an expansion team in the NBA G League, and I’ve had a front-row seat to watch them improve year after year. Last season, they made it all the way to the NBA G League Finals, and even though they fell short, the journey was so much fun. I’m so grateful to have had this experience at the G League level with a truly first-class organization. One day, I hope to have the same experience with an NBA team as I further my career.
• As an award-winning sports broadcaster, can you explain what unique qualifications separate you from other candidates?
  Broadcasting is a really difficult field to break into. I was extremely lucky to land work in New York after graduating from Â鶹¹ÙÍø. I think the biggest reason for my success has been my work ethic. I’ve taken advantage of the opportunities I’ve gotten, and have worked hard to keep opening more doors.
• What was a major obstacle you were able to overcome to successfully perform your job?
  It’s hard to think of one example. I would say that the field of broadcasting in general is extremely competitive and hard to break into. I’ve had to be persistent in pursuing the jobs I want, and not get discouraged when I haven’t gotten them.