Olympics
Despite pandemic setback, Durham woman covering Olympics for NBC
Ellie Whittington is a social media strategist for the Durham Bulls. But NBC hired her engage with its Olympic audience on social media.
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Ellie Whittington is a social media strategist for the Durham Bulls. But NBC hired her engage with its Olympic audience on social media.
LLOYD IS ALSO THE OLDEST U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER TO MAKE IT TO THE OLYMPICS AT 39 YEARS OLD. >>> IF YOU FOLLOW NBC SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING ABOUT OLYMPICS, YOU HAVE LIKELY SEEN THE WORK OF A DIGITAL JOURNALIST FROM THE TRIANGLE. SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST FOR THE DURHAM BULLS. NBC HIRED HER TO ENGAGE WITH THE OLYMPIC AUDIENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SHE IS DOING THIS FROM HER LIVING ROOM. >> MY DREAM WAS TO GO TO TOKYO. >> Reporter: A DREAM JOB AWAITED. IS IS WHAT 25-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN WAITING FOR, JOURNALISM DEGREE, MASTERS IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT FROM NC STATE. >> IT HAPPENED I WOULD GRADUATE IN 2020 WHEN THE TOKYO OLYMPICS WOULD BE HAPPENING. >> Reporter: SHE APPLIED FOR A JOB AT NBC SPORTS TO COVER THE OLYMPICS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SHE GOT THE JOB ONLY TO LOSE THE JOB. >> YOUR JOB NO LONGER EXIST. >> BECAUSE THE OLYMPICS WOULD NOT HAPPEN THAT SUMMER. >> IT WAS DEVASTATING. I HAD THE LOWEST LOWS. I LIVED WITH FRIENDS. I LIVED OUT OF MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND MY PARENTS WERE LIKE, PLEASE JUST TAKE A JOB, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. >> Reporter: SHE LANDED A JOB WITH THE DURHAM BULLS AS A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST. SHE LOVES IT. >> I THINK THIS PLACE IS DISNEY WORLD EVERY TIME I COME TO THE STADIUM. ABSOLUTE DREAM TO DO THIS EVERY DAY. >> Reporter: THE OTHER DREAM CAME CALLING. THE OLYMPICS WOULD BE PLAYED ALBIA A YEAR LATE. NBC OFFERED HER THE JOB THOUGH COVID RESTRICTIONS PRECLUDED HER FROM GOING TO TOKYO. >> AND I WORK FOR DORM, COVER THE NOSE, AND COVER THE OLYMPICS? THEY SAID YES. >> Reporter: EVERY NIGHT SHE IS ON HER LAPTOP FOLLOWING THE GAMES IN REAL TIME POSTING ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK. IN THIS POST, SHE CUT VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MEN'S GYMNASTICS. THE AUDIENCE LOVED IT. ONE AUTHOR WROTE THE TEAM WITH THIS ACCOUNT GETS IS GOLD MEDAL. >> I GET TO SHARE THE COMMONALITY OF US BEING SPORTS FANS. I DO REMOTE DAY FOR THE BULLS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. >> Reporter: SHE HAS HER DAY JOB. >> ARE YOU SLEEPING, ARE YOU OKAY? >> Reporter: SHE DOES CATCH A LITTLE SLEEP AFTER HER OLYMPIC DUTIES. >> I KNOW THIS IS TEMPORARY BUT FEEL VERY BLESSED. >> Reporter: SHE LONGS TO BE AT THE OLYMPICS IN PERSON, MAYBE THE WINTER GAMES IN BEIJING OR