Benjamin Rosenberg (BSJ21, MSJ21)

Mississippi State Beat Reporter for The Commercial Dispatch

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

I’ve known I wanted to be a journalist since high school, but was feeling out my options during my time at Medill. I dipped my toe into political reporting, spending a quarter in D.C. with Medill on the Hill and interning at Vox during the 2020 election, but I primarily covered sports at The Daily Northwestern, and covering games gave me an energy that nothing else did. My first job after graduation was covering high school and college sports for the Valley News in New Hampshire and Vermont, and in the fall of 2023, I started in my current role covering Mississippi State and the SEC.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

I cover all things Mississippi State athletics — primarily football, basketball, baseball and softball, with some soccer, volleyball and tennis mixed in. I write game stories, features, breaking news and more while developing a broad network of sources both inside and outside the athletic department.

How has your Medill training helped you in your career?

The student media opportunities were just as valuable as the classes I took. I was able to cover Big Ten athletics starting as a freshman and learned a lot about beat reporting and how to become the go-to source on a particular team. In the MSJ program, I took classes in interactive storytelling, data journalism and podcasting, among others, which have all helped make me more well-rounded as a professional. Medill also offers classes in photo and video journalism, social media reporting and narrative writing, and although I don’t use all of these skills in my current role, it is useful to have more tools at my disposal.

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

I took advantage of the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program, connecting with a recent alum to help me navigate applying for internships and jobs, and we are still in touch to this day. I’ve conducted informational interviews with alumni in sports media, and they were all willing to pay it forward and offer advice on job interviews, freelancing, cover letters and more.

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

I understand that there is not a lot of money in newspapers, especially smaller ones, but entry-level salaries have to be more competitive in order to lower barriers to entry. Sports media in particular tends to be an old boys’ club, and we need more women and people of color who can often provide fresh ideas and perspectives that many of us would not have even considered.

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

Especially in football and basketball, most of the athletes I cover in my current role are Black, so I always try to keep in mind that their upbringing and life experiences may be different than my own as a white person. Even as a man, I have always enjoyed covering women’s sports and don’t see why anyone would treat them any differently. The athletes and coaches genuinely appreciate my being there and are often more insightful than players on men’s teams who are covered more regularly. I also never played competitive sports at a very high level, so I always try to ask questions that help me understand what athletes are really thinking and feeling before, during and after games.

What advice do you have for someone considering Medill?

Medill was a great place to grow and learn! The faculty all have extensive experience and are willing to help students improve and land jobs after graduation. I would recommend taking a diverse array of classes and tapping into the alumni network.