by Dylan James
It’s ‘Time To Talk” day today, and USW’s sports journalism students have been hard at work producing content for this all important occasion.
“Time To Talk” was designed to help break the stigma around opening up about your mental health, and BA Sports Journalism’s first and second year students have created their own 25-30 minute news programmes dedicated to kickstarting new conversations about the taboo subject that is mental wellbeing.
Second year student Haydn Evans presented the “Bouncebacks” edition of the programme, where Adam Cleary conducted an interview with Wales Online rugby reporter Simon Thomas, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.
Simon was honest and up front about his experience with cancer, and used humour to explain how the diagnosis transpired.
“It’s surreal how you remember these things, my abiding memory is actually feeling sorry for the consultant who was telling me, because I got the impression it’s one of the first he’s had to do!”
Despite this being the first time he was told he had cancer, Simon explained that he was already convinced he had it, given that his family have a long-running history with the condition.
“I was already completely resigned to it, I’ve got a family history of the same form of cancer. My brother sadly passed away with it, I had all the symptoms, I knew what I had.”
Adam relished the opportunity to interview Simon, and appreciated how much it took for someone to open up about something so personal.
“It was an honour to interview such a well respected and well known member of the Welsh rugby community about something so personal. It was great of Simon to open and tell his story, and it was obviously even better to hear about his recovery after having such a cruel disease.”
In the ‘Community Care‘ edition, presented by second year student Tom Lea, first year Lewis Sharpe interviewed Connor Hughes, who is running 58 miles in February in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Lewis, who has started his first year on the BA Sports Journalism course in quite unconventional fashion, due to the on going pandemic, was thrilled to be able to interview Connor, who hasn’t only raised over £150 for Cancer Research, but is a good friend of Lewis.
“Interviewing Connor was a pleasure. He’s someone I’ve known for a good few years now and I’ve played football with him quite a bit too. He’s a really kind, genuine bloke and he’s massively motivated to make a difference.”
“He’s already beaten his fundraising goal of £150 and I’m sure that will continue to rise as he is well known in the North Wales football community.”
Second year Hayley Mooney presented the “Inspiring Others Podcast“, which included an interview with Cambrian and Clydach Vale football coach Lee Kendall, who highlighted the good work from MIND charity, who offer help and advice to people struggling with their mental health.
Hayley was delighted to have the opportunity to present this edition, and insisted her previous job as a bingo caller helped her out a lot!
“I really enjoyed presenting our podcast as it’s something I feel comfortable doing!”
“In the future I would love to present sport on the TV or even on the radio, so it’s just practice for me I suppose. Also my ex job as a bingo caller definitely helps me a lot!”
Zacharie Johnson-Pillon of second year was at the helm of the sports quiz, which involved a number of both student sports journalists and USW sports teams. Zacharie spent over nine hours editing the final product, but still found the experience to be enjoyable and beneficial.
“Producing the quiz was really enjoyable! Not just the editing, everything in the build up to the recording was very enriching in terms of team work. Making choices as a group, contacting the right people to be involved, all that helped make the quiz what it was.”
