Alexandra Drago

My name is Alexandra Drago and I am from New Jersey. I am a current sophomore here at IU and majoring in Sports Media.



Projects by Alexandra Drago

News Story

NCAA – NIL Legislation Enables Compensation For Student Athletes

By Alexandra Drago, Eric Perkins, and Demi Heinz

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024)

NIL – a student-athlete compensation that was passed by the Supreme Court in 2021 and has completely changed the game in high school and college athletics. 

On a Saturday afternoon, in the windy hours of October in Bloomington, IN, people filled the streets of the town with friends and family, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Just outside the campus of Indiana University, in the heart of the college town, we met up with local IU soccer athletes, senior Justin Weiss and freshman Drew Gaydosh, at Inkwell Cafe to discuss the effects that NIL has had on them since it went into full force.

It wasn’t unusual to see these D1 athletes roaming around the streets of Bloomington. As we sat down with Weiss and Gaydosh, many students smiled and waved at them, showing how being an athlete at a D1 university has its perks, like being seen as a “campus celebrity.” They were more than happy and welcomed to talk about their life around athletics that takes place outside of the field. 

“It really is a different and crazy experience here, being an athlete and all. We have training in the gym at 6:00 am, go to class, and then three-hour practice. On top of school and soccer, then we have to answer emails and Zoom meetings with brands and companies through NIL,” Gaydosh said. 

In addition to having very different experiences than the average college student, collegiate athletes also profit financially from what they do outside of school due to their prominence in the media. Their choices and experiences at college or university are directly impacted by these NIL deals. 

 “NIL has changed my college experience in terms of broadening my network. The people I meet and work with due to the deal help increase awareness of other resources,” Weiss said, a forward on Indiana University’s soccer team, expressing his experiences within NIL. 

Justin Weiss, a student at Indiana University, is photographed during his soccer game. As a senior, Weiss has many experiences with NIL through the years of being a college athlete.

As a senior, Weiss experienced NIL firsthand during his freshman year when it got passed and went into effect. Weiss spoke on how NIL has positively affected him as a college athlete in terms of reaching the eyes of more companies and brands. With the ability to monetize their NIL, athletes can now engage in endorsement deals, social media promotions, and personal appearances. This has led Weiss to achieve more opportunities given to him through his social media deals, such as how NIL has given athletes the opportunity to develop their own brands.  “The way I have built my brand is continuously posting on social media with team stuff and individual actions throughout the season,” Weiss said. 

Dr. Galen Clavio, Media Professor at Indiana University, holds a press conference discussion during class in C250. He shares his thoughts on NIL as well as his experiences.

However, being a good athlete is one thing, but being able to advertise yourself in the NIL light is another. Dr. Clavio, professor of media at Indiana University, spoke with university students during a press conference on NIL and what it means to be a good athlete in NIL circumstances. “The other part of NIL is the athletes that are good at media, who understand how to utilize social media, who bring in a social media audience…For a lot of businesses who would want to contract with an athlete from an NIL perspective, a lot of it is what market are you bringing to the table,” Dr. Clavio said. Apart from being good athletes, collegiate athletes have to also learn the other side that comes with playing college sports. “As this is my first year, I am starting to navigate my way through NIL and brand deals. I’ve learned that the more I post online through apps like Instagram and Twitter, the more brands reach out to me. It helps get my exposure out into the world,” Gaydosh said. Gaydosh went on to talk about how impactful social media has been for him.

Drew Gaydosh, a freshman student at Indiana University, poses with a soccer ball during a photoshoot. As a new member of the team, Gaydosh has thoughts about his experiences so far with NIL.

Athletes used to be frequently viewed as nothing more than spokespersons for their schools, with little control over their public identities. They may now develop their own identities, interact with fans, and provide content that appeals to their target market. In addition to increasing their visibility, this change gets them ready for future employment in sports or other industries. Athletes can acquire useful abilities that will help them long after their college careers are over by learning how to handle the challenges of branding and marketing. 

As we wrapped up our discussion, the voices of the collegiate athletes were full of passion and determination. In addition to their happiness at the opportunities NIL has provided, they talked about the burden of responsibility that goes along with them. Their stories are filled with goals to achieve financial independence and build a brand that truly embodies their identities. However, there were concerns about how to cope with this new environment, the pressure to perform well on the field and in the marketplace, and the fear of losing the essence of what it means to be a student-athlete. It was clear how strong and how well aware they are of the difficulties they can possibly face. Their encounters with NIL present a turning point in collegiate athletics that can ultimately change the basis of their goals and aspirations. As 2024 becomes the third official year since the NIL was implemented, we can only hope that more positive efforts will be implemented for these collegiate athletes in the future.

An interview was conducted throughout Indiana University discussing the ongoing debate on the ruling of NIL. Many perspectives were highlighted on the topic of student-athletes being compensated.

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Public Relations Story

CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, Present’s Apples Newest Innovation, The Apple-Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts 
Alex Drago (writer)
Aisling Zarate (photographer)
Isabella Trine (editor)

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) –  On Tuesday, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, unveiled the newest addition to the Apple family, the Apple Watch. This smart-watch allows you to use many of the iPhone features from the convenience of your wrist.

Towards the end of the event, just when the unknowing audience thought it was over, Cook surprised his audience when he presented Apple’s new product, the Apple Watch. “But we’re not quite finished yet. We have one more thing,” Cook said. The audience cheered loudly, unaware that there was going to be more. Cook expressed how this new tech watch has been in the works for a very long time and that this product would redefine what people expect from technology. As Cook walked off the stage, the lights went dim, and the big screen revealed the innovative smartwatch.

Soccer referee holds flag while watching the game.
Juan Mendez, high school referee, wears an Apple Watch to keep track of time during the soccer game. Mendez can multi task by also keeping up with text messages and emails on the watch.
Student, Jolie Johns, wears her Apple Watch during basketball practice. Johns appreciates the watch's features as she can track her heart rate and calories burned while working out.
Student, Jolie Johns, wears her Apple Watch during basketball practice. Johns appreciates the watch’s features as she can track her heart rate and calories burned while working out.

Beaming with pride, Cook came back out on stage and displayed the Apple Watch on his wrist. This high-tech product is incredibly customizable and personal. “You can find one that reflects your personal style and taste. Because you wear it, we invented new, intimate ways to connect and communicate directly from your wrist,” Cook said. Some of its features include a health and fitness companion, being able to receive phone calls, and answer emails. 

While the Apple Watch is similar to the iPhone, it is also diverse in that Apple placed extra functionality on the watch, such as the dial on the top right side of the watch, known as the digital crown, and translates motor movement into data. This is used in place of ‘pinching and zooming’ on an iPhone. The digital crown allows users to scroll on text messages and other apps, and return to the home screen by pressing on it. The crowd cheered loudly as they found this feature fascinating. In order to have an Apple Watch, you need to have it connected to an iPhone, and the watch includes a feature where users can see music played on the devices around and the watch can control music on iPhone, Apple computer, and the music stored at the watch. 

Jony Ive, Senior Vice President of Design at Apple, went on to thoroughly describe features of the watch in a video. I’ve described how when creating the watch, they wanted to take a powerful piece of technology and make it accessible, relevant, and personable. They designed this product to be so personable that you would not want it to get into the wrong person’s hands, so consumers wear it on their wrists. Apple wanted users to embrace the individuality that came from wearing the watch. The new Apple watch is so personable to the user that when the user raises their wrist, it senses the movement and activates the home screen which consists of a variety of apps that are familiar to iPhone users.  

As the video directed by Ive goes on, it displays all the different features the Apple Watch contains. These include making phone calls, creating timers, a library of music, the calendar, weather, and many more. “Apps are designed for lightweight interaction,” Ive said. The watch creates a way for users to have an easily accessible feature you would have on the iPhone, but from right on your person which can be worn everyday, for any occasion. As the video ended, the audience embraced it with applause for so long and loud that Cook could barely get a word out. Cook’s face showed all his emotions, and he waved to the audience as he was elated to see how positively the audience reacted. 

Apple’s team had worked on the Apple Watch for a long time. They covered every aspect needed to create this very unique piece of technology. Cook called out one of the key contributors to the device, Kevin Lynch, the Vice President of Apple, to give the first live demo of the watch. Lynch came out wearing the watch on his left wrist, for the audience to see the demo, Lynch had a custom watch connected to the screen. He goes on to explain features such as the face of the watch, which is extremely customizable as you can change the font, color, and functionality. “…We’ve also been working to enable third-party developers to extend their apps to Apple Watch,” Lynch said. Lynch then goes on to explain how users can use social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. “It’s something functional yet incredibly beautiful, it empowers people and enriches their lives,” Cook said. This watch is motivated to help people to be active, and healthy, and have an easily accessible piece of technology. Apple’s newest addition will be available in stores on April 24, 2015. “It will be available early next year and it is worth the wait,” Cook said.

 

Co-founder and CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, shown above sharing that the Apple Watch shares many of the iPhones innovative features. Apple focused on bringing the technology of their iPhones and Macs down to a much smaller size.

Kevin Lynch, Vice President of Apple, seen above demonstrating the features of the maps app on the Apple Watch. He is showing that many of the iPhone’s capabilities can also be used on the Apple Watch.

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