From a Duke Football Feature Reporter to becoming an NFL Social Media Coordinator

Major: Evolutionary Anthropology; Minor: Chemistry; Certificate: Policy Journalism  Media Studies

In this interview with DukeJournos, Cassie Calvert (16) reveals how the Duke Blue Devil IMG Sports Network gave her a first shot as a feature reporter for Coach Cutcliffe’s television show, which led her to rethink her plans in sports medicine to pursue sports journalism. Learn more about Cassie’s experiences with the Baltimore Ravens, including how she created a weekly social media show interviewing the Ravens players.

As Social Media Coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens for the past two years (and the New Orleans Pelicans the year before that), what has been the coolest part of your job so far?

CC: Oh, that’s a tough one. On a daily basis, my favorite part of my job is being the conduit between our players and our fanbase. I’m able to connect with our fans one-on-one and help show a side of our team that fans don’t see on the field.

But, if I had to pick a specific moment there are two that stand out. The past two years I’ve had the opportunity to be on the team covering Ray Lewis (in 2018) and Ed Reed (in 2019) when each found out they were being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s a moment that is typically very private, shared only with family and the closest of friends. I was able to be in the room when each received the famous “knock” from the president of the HOF coming to tell them they had been selected. For each, it was one of the most defining and special moments of their lives, so to be a part of that was truly special.

Do you have a favorite project or campaign you are particularly proud of?

CC: Along with a few others on our team here at the Ravens, I helped conceptualize and create a weekly social media show that airs on the Ravens Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. I co-host the segment and it’s one of the more fun, light-hearted and engaging shows we produce. It’s been fun to build it from the ground up and I’m really proud of how far we’ve come in the last year!

Is there anything about your job that people typically assume, but couldn’t be more wrong about?

CC: That we don’t have any work to do in the NFL offseason! The NFL does a great job of staying in the news year-round so there’s always work to be done.

My favorite part of my job is being the conduit between our players and our fanbase. I’m able to connect with our fans one-on-one and help show a side of our team that fans don’t see on the field.

You majored in Evolutionary Anthropology major at Duke and originally planned to go to medical school for sports medicine, so what got you excited about journalism?

CC: Ha, this is a good one. I credit John Roth at the Blue Devil IMG Sports Network and the whole group at the athletic department’s Blue Devil Network for really giving me my first shot. I worked with them as a feature reporter for Coach Cutcliffe’s television show for three years at Duke and absolutely fell in love with it. I loved being able to tell unique stories to connect the fans to the athletes.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10?

CC: I really enjoy working on the team-side of sports media, so I’d love to continue on my path as a team reporter/head of a digital media department.