• Loading stock data...
Friday, March 29, 2024
2024 Best Venues nominations are open now through April 8! Submit Now

Annie Finberg of The Atlanta Hawks on Growing As A Digital Pro

Subscribe: iTunes | SoundCloud

Social managers often have to be multi-talented, but Annie Finberg takes it to another level.  She’s been an NFL cheerleader, she taught English in Asia, and now she’s the senior coordinator of digital content with the Atlanta Hawks.

After graduating from Kansas, Finberg interned with the Orlando Magic in their social media department. About a year later, she landed a full-time role with the Hawks, where she is now in her third season. Finberg also hosts the Winging It podcast alongside Kent Bazemore and Vince Carter on The Ringer.

In today’s episode, Finberg discusses her unique position working both in the NBA and with The Ringer, growing as a professional within digital media, the challenges of being a woman in sports and keeping pace with how fast the sports world moves.

Edited highlights appear below:

How the Winging It podcast came to be (15:47):

“I’ve always had kind of another career goal, which is to get into broadcasting, whether that’s a pregame show or doing sidelines. So anything that I can do to perfect that craft along the way is something I’ve tried to do. The podcast actually started last year with Kent Bazemore and Mike Muscala, and we were part of the Road Trippin’ gang. Channing [Frye] and Allie [Clifton] were a big help to us in getting that all set up, and Uninterrupted was great. It was a really great learning experience for us. Then after that we brought Vince on and just with kind of our restrictions and stuff that we had, we went with The Ringer, and they’ve been great so far. I couldn’t say more great things about them. Bill Simmons is obviously quite opinionated, but he is a great boss, and he’s welcomed us in with open arms, and we’ve really enjoyed it so far.”

On continuously growing in a constantly changing digital landscape (18:26):

“First of all, I have to credit Jaryd Wilson for pretty much everything I know, who I know was a guest on this podcast as well. Jared took a chance on me [by] hiring me to come into the Hawks because that was my first full-time job. The space has changed not as much as you would think over three years as I’m sure you guys both know. I think that Jaryd was kind of one of the pioneers of the sarcastic, witty personalities [on social]. I learned as much of that as I could from him, but I think that the social space has just grown into bigger and better content and higher quality. You can’t just really post a Snapchat warm-up video of layup lines anymore. People are doing so much more. Every time you got to outdo yourself with better equipment, better access, all that.”

Social on the Sidelines is Presented to You By:

Advice for people struggling to get their foot into the door (26:59):

“Patience is key. We have a part-time position [at the Hawks] and we’ve had people come in and out of that and they have a hard time finding a full-time gig outside of that. You get frustrated and impatient and maybe you even apply for jobs you don’t really want just because you’re desperate to have one. Which, I understand. You got to pay the bills, but I think you have to be patient and be ready for whatever moment it is that’s prepared for you. I think everything happens for a reason, and your next break is just around the corner. I think a lot of people tend to give up before they get that break or don’t have faith enough in themselves to continue to push. Then once you’re in, it’s all about making connections.”

Favorite part of the job (31:13):

“My favorite part about working in the social space is just being there to experience and capture these small moments that people might not see unless they’re at the game sitting courtside, whether that’s a pregame dunk or Vince Carter and Dwayne Wade exchanging jerseys and being able to experience that moment and then also share it with the fans. I know that before I came to the Hawks, they had some live coverage like that but not a ton. So I kind of made that my goal to get as much boots on the ground live coverage as I could get.”

Love what we are doing? Help us grow and get in front of more people by subscribing below and leaving a review! 

Subscribe: iTunes | SoundCloud

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

March 22, 2024, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0) react in overtime against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Barclays Center.

‘An Expensive Game’: March Madness and NIL Collectives Are Intertwined

At schools nationwide, collectives are fueling NCAA tournament runs and vice versa.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (22) waits to be announced in the starting lineup against West Virginia in a NCAA Tournament round of 32 game Monday, March 25, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Women’s Trading Card Market Is Overlooked. Can Caitlin Clark Change That?

Traditionally, women’s sports cards have been a marginal part of collectibles.
The Sports Illustrated cover signed by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, February 27, 2019, at Don & Charlie's, 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. Don Charlie S

Everything You Need to Know About the Ongoing ‘Sports Illustrated’ Saga

Understanding the strange state of affairs for the nearly 70-year-old publication.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

MLB Opens Season With MLBPA, Ohtani, and Ownership Dramas

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Inside the Big East’s Bizarre Online Subculture

Peeling back the curtain on the ‘phenomenally weird’ Big East online ecosystem.
Mar 21, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stetson Hatters guard Stephan Swenson (30) reacts during team practice at Barclays Center.
March 22, 2024

First-Time NCAA Men’s Tourney Bids Could Be on the Verge of Extinction

Power and success are consolidating around the richest teams in college sports.
March 17, 2024

‘Everybody Was Under Suspicion’: The Day Selection Sunday Was Scooped

In 2016, the ‘Selection Show’ backfired when the bracket was leaked anonymously.
Sep 3, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Orlando Pride forward Ally Watt (11) and Orlando Pride forward Julie Doyle (20) enter the stadium before the game against OL Reign at Lumen Field.
March 16, 2024

So Long, White Shorts: Here’s Why the NWSL’s Uniform Pivot Matters

There’s finally a growing trend to adapt women’s sports to women’s bodies.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Live Nation
Multiple - USA Careers
Adidas
Multiple - USA Careers
Spotify
Multiple - USA Careers
Actor Vince Vaughn throws out first pitch at Chicago Cubs game
exclusive

Vince Vaughn, Greg Olsen’s New Company Eyeing Financing

Greg Olsen and actor Vince Vaughn’s new company has launched first two podcasts.
exclusive
May 13, 2021

Cris Carter Scores New Deal With Blue Wire Podcasts

Cris Carter has scored a deal with Blue Wire Podcasts. The Pro Football Hall of Famer will interview star receivers, past and present, on his new “WR1” podcast.
Olivia Moody
August 4, 2021

Colin Cowherd’s New Podcast Network Going All-In On Sports Betting

With sports betting rapidly legalizing, Colin Cowherd’s The Volume podcast network is hiring Olivia Moody, a.k.a. ‘Liv Moods,’ from Bookit Sports.
Sponsored

How Daily Fantasy Sports Solved NBA Fantasy

The remarkable growth of the #1 Discord sports server in the world.
September 24, 2020

Office Hours: Alex Magleby, co-founder and CEO of the New England Free..

Alex Magleby, the New England Free Jacks co-founder and CEO, is bullish on rugby’s future in the U.S. and Major League Rugby.
August 13, 2020

Office Hours: Bart Conner, Owner of Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy and Former..

Bart Conner is the only American male gymnast to win a gold medal at every level of national and international competition.
July 22, 2020

Office Hours: Devon Kennard, Real Estate Investor

Devon Kennard has found success on and off the field with a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio that includes 14 different properties.
July 7, 2020

Office Hours: Isaac Rochell, Founder, Local Human

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Isaac Rochell, Los Angeles Chargers defensive end and founder of apparel company Local Human.