A WKU alumnus and sports journalist returned to campus Thursday evening to share experiences and lessons from his life and career with students.
Dominique Yates worked for WBKO, the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville-based station WLKY and now covers the Green Bay Packers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Yates spoke about growing up in Muhlenberg County, attending WKU, his winding career path and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
“There were people along the way that helped me in my journey,” Yates said. “I think that’s part of what it’s all about, giving back to people and trying to help them, and if I can play a small part in that, it’s definitely an honor for me.”
As Yates walked students through his life and career, he encouraged attendees to remember the journey and appreciate each step. He reminded students that there are always lessons to be learned.
Yates also discussed some of the difficulties he’s faced, particularly as a Black man in the present political atmosphere.
“I did a podcast when I was in Green Bay, I had my hat on backwards during it,” Yates said. “I was called a thug because of that. I’m like, ‘Have you even heard me talk? I’m a hillbilly, basically, from Kentucky.’ Nothing about me is thug-like.”
Yates said he’s had to learn not to give energy to things he knows aren’t true. Yates recounted being told he doesn’t deserve where he is, what he has and being called a “DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) hire.”
Associate Broadcasting professor Ryan Dearbone, faculty advisor for WKU NABJ, recalled being told he was hired to fill a “race quota” at WBKO before DEI initiatives existed, among other racist comments he received.
Yates said he has found it valuable to recognize his own worth and the work he’s put in to remind himself he deserves the position he’s in.
“I know who I am, I know what I’m about,” Yates said. “I know what I can do in this business and I know what I have to offer to the profession and to people. So, don’t let it bother you. There’s really no reason to, it’s just not worth it.”
Yates said he’s grateful to have grown up with parents who supported him and taught him that he mattered. Growing up in a small community in Muhlenberg County was formative to his sense of self, Yates said.
“That was a big part of my life: family, my faith, going to church every Sunday, playing the drums, playing the piano, singing, maybe not very good, but I had to do that,” Yates said. “That was really where I got used to talking in front of people and being comfortable. It allowed me to figure out who I was.”
Yates said his impersonation of his high school principal landed him a spot on a morning show for the school, his first experience in front of a camera. He said he played football in high school but knew he wouldn’t after he graduated, so he thought he could be a trainer to stay around the game. However, broadcasting and journalism, he said, fell into his lap.
“I just became hooked on the business, I wanted to learn everything about it,” Yates said. “I always idolized Stuart Scott, and so as soon as I jumped into the business, he was the guy that I copied. I still steal so much from him to this day.”
Yates said one of his teachers told him about WKU, and a tour of the media department drew him to attend. The same teacher, he said, went to church with someone who worked at WBKO, which opened another door. Yates sent the station a clip from his high school morning show and worked for WBKO for seven and a half years, starting his freshman year at WKU.
Yates worked his way up from part-time video editor and took roles as a news reporter, a weekend anchor and finally got a role covering sports for the station.
After his tenure at WBKO, Yates took a newly created position as multimedia sports analyst for the Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville.
“I was really intrigued by building something from scratch,” Yates said. “I wanted the new challenge, I wanted to become a well-rounded journalist.”
While at the Courier-Journal, Yates covered a wide-range of topics, from the Kentucky Derby and collegiate sports to the Black Lives Matter protests during COVID lockdowns. During his tenure, Yates won first place in Sports Feature Writing from the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for his coverage of a DeSales High School football player.
Yates said his experiences interviewing such a variety of sources for such diverse subjects taught him many lessons and skills that he still carries with him.
“It was a really challenging time, and it was draining,” Yates said. “But it was still just a very powerful time for me.”
After four-and-a-half years with the Courier Journal, Yates stayed in Louisville and worked with WLKY for two-and-a-half more, when he once again got the itch to spread his wings.
He didn’t know where, but Yates said he knew he wanted to cover professional sports, and that his work prepared him for his next opportunity.
Yates said the community in Green Bay, Wisconsin, home of the NFL’s Packers, reminded him of Bowling Green. His work covering the team has taken him across the country for games, training camps and more.
“I’m just not satisfied, because the day I’m satisfied is the day I won’t be in this business anymore,” Yates said. “So, proud? Yes, but I just know there’s more work to do. I’m 33 and I still have so much more to learn. I want to continually grow.”
