Jacob Varcoe, a student in the Sports Journalism program, has always had an immense interest in sports. Growing up, he played every sport he could, and it was through those experiences that he made connections and further fostered the passion that he has for sports to this day. “I grew up as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and every Saturday night I would watch Hockey Night in Canada with the volume down so I could pretend I was a broadcaster. I have always found ways to be involved in sports, and I was always participating on teams growing up,” he shares.
It was after immersing himself in various sports for many years, such as spending twelve years umpiring baseball, when Jacob decided to start two YouTube channels: The Bills Bunker (launched May 2020) and Maple Leafs Media (launched July 2020).
“I started the channels to challenge myself and see what I was capable of doing,” Jacob says. “I have always had a passion for sports, so talking about them came naturally to me. I began creating content for these pages as a way to be heard and get my name out there as a young sports journalist.”
Video content creation requires a number of steps, especially since much of Jacob’s content centres around up-to-date stats. “If I’m doing a play-by-play live stream or a post-game show, I will take notes on players to watch and any interesting player or team statistics in order to prepare myself. Alternatively, if I am creating a video about breaking news or a trade, I must be certain to get my information from credible sources and relay the facts to viewers,” he shares.
This type of work also requires a great deal of strategy, especially on a platform that can be competitive. Jacob explains, “When creating pre-recorded videos, there is also an editing process. On YouTube, it is vital to create interesting thumbnail photos, write great descriptions, and make use of tags in order to stand out to content consumers. If your video blends in with others when someone is scrolling through a website, it is less likely to have engagement. The whole process comes down to knowledge and preparation.”
While Jacob is a student in the Sports Journalism program, he already has taken away a number of important lessons that he says he will utilize for the rest of his career. He adds, “In journalism, there are so many different streams of work to explore. It is important to be well crafted in a number of different areas, whether that be writing, reporting, social media, or photojournalism. Learning about potential career outcomes has been paramount.
One of his favourite parts of the program so far has been the experience he has gained from the interviews he conducts with experts. “Anytime there is an opportunity to have a conversation with an expert in the field, it is a chance to gain knowledge and expertise. That has definitely been a highlight of the program for me,” he shares.
From interviewing, to writing, to reporting, to sports history, to social media – Jacob has the opportunity to obtain a wide-ranging view of different aspects of the sports industry. “This program will certainly prepare me to become a well-crafted journalist, as it has already widened my scope to the possible career my future holds,” he says.
“The program has given me a different perspective on covering sports as a whole, which is evident in the creation of my videos.”
Jacob’s video creation process has evolved since enrolling in the Sports Journalism program, as he explains that he has taken steps back as a fan and steps forward as a journalist. “It is pivotal that I don’t let biases affect my reporting. When covering games on my channels, I am now looking to cover the story from both sides rather than focusing on just one team.”
The journalism industry has significantly evolved. Not only is it much more accessible to retrieve news as it happens, but there are many “non-traditional” ways to report (i.e., on YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, etc.). Jacob shares that the sports journalism industry, specifically, is constantly evolving as new opportunities arise. “With the evolution of social media and podcasting, there are countless opportunities to get involved in the industry, now more than ever. There are more ways to get recognized for your work due to social media, and it's up to creators to present interesting and factual information.”
He continues, “Breaking news is also readily available to consumers faster than ever, and people are working behind the scenes to get news notifications out in a timely manner. As a whole, there are countless positions that need to be occupied in the industry, and with that, I envision the industry to continue growing.”
As for advice for those entering the program or the sports journalism industry, he says it is never too early to start. “There are so many different avenues to explore in this industry; finding your niche is a key to success. For myself, starting my YouTube channels gave me an idea of what exactly I wanted to do for my career, and it also gave me invaluable experience. The experience I have gained from creating content has propelled me to where I am today. Looking back at some of the earliest videos posted on my channels makes me realize how much I’ve improved. If you can get a head start, I would suggest doing so.”
Looking ahead, Jacob seeks to fulfil his goal that he made prior to admission to the Sports Journalism program, which is to be on television or radio covering sports. He explains, “To be involved in sports media would be a dream come true. There are plenty of career paths I could end up going down in the future. I’m going into the world of sports journalism with an open mind. I may end up doing something I never envisioned myself doing, but as of right now, my goal is to cover sports on television or radio.”
Be sure to check out Jacob’s YouTube channels The Bills Bunker and Maple Leafs Media, and follow @BillsBunker and @mapleleafsmedia on Instagram for more content.
Article by: Alexandra Few