UC sports media grad scores dream job
|
UC sports media graduate Steve Russo is living the dream. Photo supplied |
Vanessa Lam
19 June 2014:
When Steven Russo transferred from an economics and social science degree in Sydney to a Bachelor of Sports Media at the University of Canberra, he never imagined he could land his dream job straight out of university.
Mr Russo, who graduated this year, scored a position as a staff writer in the widely-read Australian rugby league magazine Rugby League Week. The publication is the second most-read sporting magazine in the country.
"It's a dream come true," Mr Russo said. His favourite part about working in the magazine, he said, is that he gets to be involved with the sport he fell in love with in his early teens and has since developed into his main passion.
"It's great that I get to go to games, interview players and get to be involved with a game that I really like watching and have supported since I was young," Mr Russo said.
He said the experience has been challenging at times but also very rewarding. "I've been given the opportunity to speak to some of the game's elite players and get paid to do something that I would probably be doing on the weekends anyway."
Mr Russo said that what he enjoyed most about his time at the University of Canberra was the learning experience through the kind of work and opportunities that were provided.
"Everything was really practical. Everything was oriented towards getting real experience, doing activities that were training you for the workplace. All the activities we did were great and the staff were always good and very helpful," he said.
Mr Russo mentioned that some of his University tutors, such as Simon Brady and Charlotte Harper, were very helpful in improving his writing and providing practical tips.
While studying at the University, Mr Russo did a few internships with the Canberra Raiders, the New South Wales Rugby League and The Canberra Times.
He also said that the University of Canberra's existing relationships with other organisations, such as the University's partnership with the Brumbies and more recently the signed agreement of the Graduates of League Program with the Canberra Raiders, provided great opportunities. Mr Russo added that graduates have also helped open doors for him.
"UC has a lot of relationships with several organisations; for example, I did a two-year internship with the Canberra Raiders and partially because I knew that Ben Pollack, the media manager there was a UC graduate. Interestingly enough in another internship I did with NSW Rugby League, my supervisors were UC graduates as well," he said.
Mr Russo also worked part time for NRL Stats centre which provides stats on live matches and reports. He said it was a good opportunity because it had him writing consistently, enabling him to network, which ultimately led to his job at Rugby League Week.
"I think the main reason why I got my job was because I had just done so much work through internships. I loved doing it, I didn't care that it was not paid; I just liked being involved and have the access to sporting events.
"At the end of the day you work hard, you do the right thing and people give you a reference, which is ultimately a very important thing when you go for that job interview."
