When Liberty University alumna Annie Cory was 8 years old, she spent Sundays watching San Francisco 49ers games with her dad. Now at 23, Cory has turned what began as a bonding moment into a lifelong passion for sports and storytelling.
“I was totally hooked,” Cory said. “I just wanted to do anything I could to get as close to the game as possible.”
As she watched sideline reporters interview players and share stories from the field, it became clear to Cory that she had found her calling.
“I remember thinking, ‘I have to be there one day,’” Cory said.
That dream eventually led her to Liberty where she pursued a degree in broadcast journalism and graduated in 2024. Her time at Liberty paved a solid foundation for the field she aspired to work in.
“I wanted a Christian school that also had a really good broadcasting program,” Cory said. “Liberty was the perfect mix of both.”
Once on campus, Cory began searching for ways to get involved and gain hands-on experience. She landed at the Liberty Broadcast Experience (LBX) through the CSER volunteer program. As a young reporter, Cory initially faced struggles, sometimes emailing all the wrong people, but she eventually figured things out.
“Annie stood out as a ‘go-getter’ from the time that I met her as a student reporter for the DI men’s hockey broadcasts on ESPN+,” Chris Jones, senior producer at LBX, said. “She watched and learned from professional sideline reporters, which led to her bringing story ideas to the production calls.”
Cory’s work with LBX allowed her to build the experience she needed to land an internship with NBC Sports, an opportunity she described as a blessing.
“I can see God’s hand through all of it,” Cory said.
Along with beginning her work with LBX in the winter of 2022, Cory also began writing for the Liberty Champion as a CSER writer before being pulled up to work on staff as the sports editor the following fall. During this time, Cory applied for multiple NBC internships and was selected for the digital video production team. When an offer came for an editing position, it initially caught her off guard.
“I remember thinking, ‘Why did they hire me to be an editor?’” Cory said.
Cory said that internship was a turning point, pushing her to grow her skill set and make connections that led to more open doors for her to walk through.
With help from her internship supervisor, Cory began writing for NBC Sports and joined the research department where she contributed to the network’s 2024 Summer Olympic coverage.
“When I think back to that time, it’s kind of a blur,” Cory said. “I was working 12-hour shifts from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. every single day of the month.”
Assigned to 3-on-3 basketball, diving and fencing, Cory was responsible for gathering and verifying a diverse set of information for broadcast crews.
“I had to become a fencing expert in two weeks,” Cory said.
Her work required precision and accuracy, and she had to learn to adapt quickly. Sometimes Cory was the last set of eyes before something went on air, which helped her recognize the responsibility of the position she was in.
“I was exhausted, but it was one of the best experiences of my life,” Cory said.
While working her internship, Cory continued serving in her role at the Champion until she graduated in 2024. She then accepted a position working full-time for LBX while continuing to work at NBC, now as a production assistant.
As for the future, Cory said she is uncertain but is learning to embrace what comes next.
“I have no idea where my career will take me,” Cory said. “But I’m excited to see what God does. I love what I’m doing now, and if this is as far as I go, that’s great. If he takes me somewhere else, I’m ready for that too.”
Navage and Spearman are sports reporters for the Liberty Champion.
White is the sports editor for the Liberty Champion.