Landon Buford is currently a credentialed media member with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Wings. Over the past two years, he has had the opportunity to interview and profile some of the best talent in which both leagues had to offer. Some of those athletes that he has interviewed are Kevin Durant, Skylar Diggins, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Vince Carter, Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi just to name a few. Some of his work has been featured in numerous publications such as the Heavy, Entertainment Tonight, Seattle Times, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Reports, Complex, NBC Sports, Sporting News, International Business Times and Vibe Magazine.
Even though Buford is now interviewing some of your favorites celebrities and athletes, this was not always the case. According to Buford he actually began passing out CDs and flyers for a local Seattle artist and a member of Team USA Track & Field by the name of Norris Frederick before pursuing his passion of being a Journalist.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Buford about the beginning of his career and asked him for his advice for other Journalists looking to pursue a career in Journalism.
RESPECT.: What inspired you to become a Journalist?
Landon: I always wanted to help tell stories that the mainstream media was missing or overlooking. So, I started telling stories about people that were in my community after I left college. It started with people in my community and then it grew from there.
RESPECT.: How were you able to work with Team USA’s Norris Frederick?
Landon: I met Norris back in 2010, He graduated from the same community college I attended in Bellevue, Washington before he transferred to the University of Washington. He was invited into one of the classes I was enrolled in to speak to us and recruit interns. I would not reconnect with Norris until a couple of months before I graduated from Washington State University and he offered me an internship.
RESPECT.: What was your most favorite interview?
Landon: I don’t think I can just narrow it down to just one interview, but I can say the one that meant the most was the interview I did with Phoenix Mercury’s center Brittney Griner. The interview added to a narrative to shed light on the pay concerns in professional sports as it pertains to women. She shared with me that she will have to start to evaluate how much longer the WNBA will be a priority in her career moving forward.
RESPECT.: You had the opportunity to cover Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic. What was that experience like and do think he is the Rookie of Year?
Landon: The experience was like covering any other player in the league in my opinion as for him winning the Rookie of The Year award. I think he had a better season than Trae Young. He came out of the gate as the clear favorite. Not saying that Trae had a bad season, but he did not start figuring it out consistently until after the All-Star Break. Luka Doncic has won every Western Conference Rookie of the Month since the beginning of the season. There has been a lot of talk about the two possibly splitting the award, but Luka earned it through his play all season.
RESPECT.: What advice would give Journalists looking to pursue a career in Journalism?
Landon: Start by reporting about things that are happening around you first and then branch off from there. I would also say to start their own websites and start building their resume. That way they will always have writing samples to showcase for freelance opportunities later on.
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