Where are they now? A News Associates graduate tells his story of life as a visually impaired sports journalist
Three years ago Aaron Fowler graduated from News Associates with a gold-standard NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism. Here’s his story:
“My name is Aaron and I’m a visually impaired sports journalist.
After finishing my Physiotherapy degree in 2013 I realised it wasn’t the career path for me.
So, in 2014 I decided to look in to becoming a sports journalist. I attended a free sports journalism workshop at News Associates in Wimbledon.
After the workshop, I knew immediately that this was a career I wanted to pursue.
I completed the NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism at News Associates in 2015, along with my guide dog Banwell.
After finishing my course, I began working at talkSPORT as a phone operative and assistant producer.
I also worked at Sky Sports News as a freelancer with the planning team and did some freelance work with Sportsbeat and Kicca.
In June 2015, I set up a website called Disability Sports News which I run the website in my spare time.
Being visually impaired and having played disability sports, I want to help increase the media coverage disability sports receive.
I also co-host The Speed of Sound show on a radio station called Disability Sports Network.
On the show me and my co-hosts, Fiona and Harsha, interview athletes, coaches and volunteers from all levels of disability sports in the UK.
The show started in 2014 on Blind Sports Radio but we moved across to DSN in April 2015.
I currently work as a freelancer at Sky Sports News with the planning team and digital media team.
I also work as a communications and fundraising assistant with a charity called Aerobility who are based in Surrey.
In the future I hope to help increase the media coverage disability sports receive and to help more people with disabilities to get in to the media industry.” #StartedHere
Follow in Aaron’s footsteps and apply for our NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism now – officially the UK’s number one NCTJ journalism course of any kind.
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