MACOMB, Il – The School of Communication and Media hired Baldwin Martinez as their new Sports Broadcasting Coordinator two weeks ago. Martinez graduated from Western with an undergraduate degree in Broadcasting and Production in 2022.
Martinez worked as a Graduate Assistant under former professor Quintin Parker, which helped him learn how to manage live productions.
“After I got my undergrad, I came back from 2022 to 2024. While working under [Parker] is when I really learned how to do live productions,” Martinez said.
Being born and raised in Chicago, Martinez calls Macomb his second home because of all the time he spent at the school. He also chose to come back because of the relationships he had created with students and faculty.
“I think it’s everything, relationships, knowing I’m familiar with Macomb and just being back here is almost like a second home and knowing I can make an impact with students because of my past experience as a GA,” Martinez said.
During his brief time away from Western Illinois, Martinez worked from 2024 to 2025 as a freelance photographer and videographer, taking photos of performers at bars or concerts in Chicago to build a portfolio of work. The work he did in college gave him the experience he needed for his career.
“I worked as a filmer for the football team from 2019 to 2022. I would also do photography before and after the game and do photos for recruitment,” Martinez said
All of the activities Martinez did in college helped improve his craft and make money on the side while he looked for a job in broadcast which led him back to WIU.
Martinez has only been back for only two weeks in his new role as the Sports Broadcasting Coordinator but has already made an impact helping with the second Western Illinois football broadcast.
Grace Zeithammer, a current student on the football broadcast team, worked with Martinez as the technical director in this past football game and thought he was helpful throughout the game.
“[Martinez] was really helpful, especially during stressful times when things were going haywire,” Zeithammer said. “I know his knowledge and expertise were great additions to the team and I’m excited to see what the next three games have in store for him.”
Martinez looks forward to being back in Sallee Hall and thinks with the environment around him will support and challenge him.
“I think it will expand my skillset, impact and teaching my students is most important and help out the program in general, but knowing I’m being supported and challenged at the same time,” Martinez said.
