Finding the Way in the Waves: Kienan Dixon's Journey to Sports Journalism

Sales or surfing? This was the choice Newhouse student, Kienan Dixon had to make two summers ago. Little did he know, his decision would lead him to his passion and ultimately, the job he hopes to do for the rest of his life.

“I applied for a press pass to the US Supreme surfing open,” Dixon said. “And, I had an internship opportunity in the area at home, a sales internship.”

But the college sophomore could not do both. His possible employer would not allow him to miss ten days of work that was required to cover the event. So, Dixon took a risk. After getting the press pass, he turned down the sale position and headed to Huntington beach.

“I had a great time rubbing shoulders with the best surfing journalists out there, covering the biggest surfing event on U.S. soil,” he said. “That kind of solidified my passion in journalism and sports.”

Now, two years after he decided to cover the curl instead of calculating churn rates, Kienan Dixon is continuing to pursue his passion as he gets his Masters’ degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. He is moving closer to the crest.

The interview audio can be found HERE. The interview transcript can be found HERE.