Grad X

Colm Laird

I have a strong interest in all things sport related. GAA, football, basketball, American Football, golf just to name a few. I have always been sporty. During my four years of studying a journalism degree in TUD, I began passionately writing about sports as it is one of my strongest interests. 
 
For my final year, I was required to write a thesis related to journalism and to make a radio documentary. Through the years, I attended multiple lectures which showcased the importance of ethics within journalism. Something that really caught my attention was the influence of fake news within journalism. I decided to write about this and the title of my thesis was, ‘What influence does fake news have on mainstream media and journalistic practice?’ The thesis was a challenge but once I had my data finalized I was able to piece it together efficiently. As for my radio documentary. The title was, ‘The book or the ball?’. Of course, I went for a sport related radio documentary as I wanted to put in my absolute best effort on this project and I did so by creating something I was passionate about. The story follows a senior inter-county hurler on his journey in making the team. The passion, work ethic, determination and commitment is on show by battling through tough set back and showcasing an elite mentality, all whilst studying in college for a master’s degree.  
 
Once I finished up in secondary school I really was unsure about the path I would go down after the leaving cert. Now that I have come to the end of my time at college, I can confidently say my love for sports has grown from watching and playing, to also writing about them. The future is still blurry but it is also exciting, so I am ready to progress onto my next chapter.  

The Book Or The Ball?