Jesse Bratman - Capturing the Pulse of Sports and Entertainment
From a young age, my passion for sports and media has driven me to capture and share unforgettable moments that bring the excitement of sports to audiences. What started with me in my room filming dunks on a mini-basketball hoop on a small Canon camera eventually grew into a passion for how sports content is created, distributed and optimized for different audiences.
I’m currently a senior at the University of Florida studying journalism: sports and media, where I’ve gained hands-on experience in sports production, content strategy and social-driven storytelling. For the past two years, I’ve worked with ESPN Gainesville, shooting games, edit highlight reels, designing graphics, writing articles and producing radio updates. This role has helped me understand how to deliver timely and accurate content while balancing the fast pace of live sports coverage.
My time at NBC Sports as a social media marketing intern shaped how I think about content on a deeper level. I created more than 300 posts across seven channels, generating over 60 million views, but the real takeaway was learning why certain posts perform on each platform. I spent a lot of time studying analytics, identifying what fans responded to and using those patterns to guide future content decisions. I also learned the value of slowing down and telling stories by adding captions, graphics, elements, and context to make posts resonate beyond the highlight itself. Whether it was behind-the-scenes coverage at Fanatics Fest or optimizing short-form content for the Prefontaine Classic, I learned how to build posts that are intentional, audience-driven and platform-specific.
For two consecutive summers, I worked at ASA Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of action sports events and content. As the youngest member of ASA, I embraced the challenge of working with seasoned professionals. I quickly made my mark by creating Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok videos that captured the high-energy atmosphere of ASA's events. I increased engagement across all platforms by utilizing behind-the-scenes footage and blending trending content with the dynamic world of action sports. My role expanded to talent booking, where I successfully recruited artists, including CeeLo Green, Bishop Briggs and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, to perform at ASA’s Super Girl Pro events. Additionally, I secured multi-year sponsorship deals with brands like Pretty Tasty Tea and Fiji Airways. With my diverse skills in sponsorship sales, social media marketing and event management, I became an invaluable asset to ASA’s events team.
My career vision is to excel in sports production at the highest level, creating impactful content and events that captivate audiences across platforms. With a versatile and evolving skill set, I am driven to learn and contribute to the sports industry in meaningful ways. This journey is just the beginning.