Sam Albuquerque (MSJ21)

Sports Editor at The Orange Observer

Tell us about your career path. How did you get where you are today?

I attended the University of Central Floria for undergrad and worked at ESPN 580 Orlando & News 96.5 WDBO for Cox Media Group Orlando for six years. I then attended Medill to receive my Master of Science in Journalism in 2021. After graduation, I worked at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Now, I am the Sports Editor at The Orange Observer.

How has your Medill training helped you in your career? (Feel free to include any specific skills, classes or experiences.)

Coming from a radio and communications background, the MSJ program really hammered home the base principles of journalism, its ethics and overall goal. The program also helped me tighten my writing, improve my understanding of grammar and AP style.

How has the Northwestern Medill network helped you advance in your career?

The name "Northwestern" on my resume is always a topic of discussion when it comes to my job search. I believe because of that powerful name recognition and network, doors that otherwise would not have opened, have.

How can your industry be more inclusive and representative of society?

In sports specifically, because there are so many people interested in the sector, the industry has carte blanche to weed out a lot of people. Usually this means companies can attract talent without having to be on the cutting edge of employee benefits and compensation. Because of that, the industry ends up pushing marginalized groups that can’t afford to earn below-poverty-line salaries to support themselves or their families in the early portion of career development. This ultimately limits the inclusion and diversity of the entire sector. Though I can sympathize that companies need to generate revenue, this harsh reality should be addressed in a way that puts human beings first over the almighty dollar.

How have your identities influenced the way you navigate your professional career?

Being Christian and Brazilian have been the foundation of everything I do, not just my work. But ultimately those two identifying marks are the guiding light of how I approach every interaction and decision I make as a professional, from the ethical decisions I make to the style in which I tell a story.

What advice do you have for someone considering Medill?

Focus on the basics and writing clean copy. Ultimately, we all want to use our voice to tell impactful stories or report on important issues – the first step to being able to do that is knowing AP style like the back of your hand and writing clean, straightforward copy.