The fourth year students of Journalism at the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO) received a visit from Adrián Lacuesta, former student of the institution and creator of the digital medium ‘La Cabaña de Deportes’, an independent sports project that is born on Twitch and that already brings together more than fifty young collaborators from all over Spain.
The session, presented by teacher Javier Barbero, is part of the subject of Specialized Journalism. Barbero stressed the need for journalists to also develop a commercial profile: “We have to know how to sell our work,” he reminded the students before giving way to the guest.
Lacuesta, a graduate in Journalism from UNEATLANTICO and with experience in media such as COPE Madrid and ESPN, shared a message focused on motivation and adaptability: “Many times you are there and do not know what to do, but the best ideas are born when you just decide to start”. That’s how ‘La Cabaña de Deportes’ came about: “With a computer, a webcam and in a crappy way,” he remembered laughing.
Their project, which started as a Twitch channel, has evolved into a medium with broadcasts, chats, interviews and sports content on the networks. They have correspondents in stadiums all over Spain, perform game previews, talk to fans and have achieved international audiences.
During his speech, Lacuesta emphasized the opportunities offered by new formats and social networks. “Anyone can be a journalist if they use the tools effectively and correctly. Intrusiveness is not always bad; sometimes it improves the profession,” he said.
He also encouraged students to create their own projects while pursuing their career, take care of their personal brand and surround themselves with “people who do you good”. He shared anecdotes of his passage through the radio -such as the arrival of Carolina Marín to COPE after having injured her cruciate ligament- to underline the importance of constancy in a demanding environment: “You must never let your guard down. Journalism gives you nothing”.
Lacuesta explained the monetization on Twitch, and how he and his partner professionalized their project: they developed a business plan based on the “3F”: family, friends and fools, the closest network that drives the first steps of an idea.
He also recalled how a “raid” (a feature that allows a streamer to automatically send their entire audience to another live channel at the end of its broadcast) by journalist Siro López brought hundreds of viewers to his channel, an example of the importance of networking. “Talk to everyone. Sometimes the opportunity comes because you knew how to be there,” he said.
To close, Lacuesta encouraged students to take advantage of the new options offered by the digital ecosystem, from sports marketing to multi-format content creation. “If you do what you’re passionate about, work stops being work,” he said. And he added a piece of advice that set the tone for his visit: “No one is coming to save you. Constancy and patience are essential”.