Following childhood passions is something kids are taught from a young age – and this advice was evidently taken on board by University students Jovica, Thomas, Mitchell and Tom. All admit to sharing a passion for sports of all kinds, imparted upon them from father’s and copious amounts of hours spent yelling at the TV on weekends and long summer afternoons after a good game in the backyard or local park.
The drive to make this hobby a livelihood is epitomised by Tom’s attitude of “I do it at home, why not be paid to do it? If I was offered a job, f*** oath I would do it.”
Players turn writers
The realisation of not having the natural ability to be a professional athlete is a phase which strikes most teenagers, Mitchell Finlayson and Jovica Babunski included, and leads many down the path they chose – “writing about the sport I love” for a living. This group of peers have excelled in their respective sports, with most reaching representative level, and this intimate knowledge of the sport at a higher level will no-doubt provide them with the insight a regular blogger is unable to construct.
Role models are key in the ongoing development of any professional, skill-based professions more-so than others, and these students are not lacking their ambition, matching their goals against European footballing greats, SBS anchors, fast bowlers and swing kings. All stated the paternal figure played a significant role in developing a keen interest in sport, with Mitchell stating “He taught me everything… he ignited my love for sport and I haven’t stopped loving it.”
The emerging theme from these four students was the modern versatility and variety of skills and content they are interested in utilising – with none having narrowed their options down to a particular medium of production, and with all being open to reporting on an array of sports. Mitchell was driven by the videogame NBA2K to shift from cricket to his current NBA craze, with Thomas (Horse Racing), Tom (Baseball) and Jovica (Tennis) also widening their horizons to greater enhance their employment opportunities and ongoing professional development. Thomas’ diversity in particular speaks for itself, with “Rugby League being the sport I identify most with, but I’d be happy to cover horse racing or football. Any sport really…” – and this ability to apply his skills to any sport in focus will be an ongoing trend in the increasingly competitive journalism industry.
The thirst for journalism as a career path is clear by their universal desire to travel in order to be closest to the most elite competitions – England and Spain for Jovica and Thomas, with America for Tom and Mitchell. Holidays to Europe and America have furthered all four student’s desire to commit their time and effort to getting the latest scoop in sports news, and whether it be football, baseball or basketball, these four will be there to write about it.
Life's tiles form the lifestyle 
