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Laura P, Roving reporter

Getting a start in sports journalism

When it comes to the fast-paced world of sports journalism 16-year-old Ben Rowles knows how to play the game.

While some may spot Ben's byline scattered through the back pages of the local Mildura newspaper, others can scroll through his latest online AFL match reports on the Millewa Football League website (new window).

However, most sport readers may find it very surprising to learn that the well-crafted and detailed match reports are written by a young sports-mad student still in high school.

In between a burying pile of homework and preparing for VCE next year, Ben has been closely following the local sports scene in Sunraysia, edging ever closer to where he sees himself: as a sports journalist in five years' time.

Working with the Herald Sun

Recently Ben was welcomed through the doors of the Herald Sun for work experience during Grand Final fever. There he spent a week rubbing shoulders with famous sports journalists, personalities and players.

"The Herald Sun was a different experience, we went down to the St Kilda (Football Club) press conference and saw training and saw different VFL and TAC Cup press conferences," Ben says.

"We went down to the Melbourne Show and met the Agricultural Minister Tony Burke, so that was a really good experience too," he says. "It could've been worse - I could've been stacking boxes at Target for work experience, so this was much better."

Shadowing a number of Herald Sun reporters during AFL Grand Final week, Ben says he was extremely lucky to have been given a glimpse into the glamorous scene of sports journalism.

"There was plenty of hustle-and-bustle with the Grand Final, so the journalists were all rushing around trying to meet deadlines," he says. "So that was good to see how they go about it when they are under pressure."

Ben says the experience has reaffirmed his desire to become a sports writer and says his family was very proud to read his opinion article about the affects of water in the Mildura region published in the Herald Sun.

"It has affected my mates, they come to school and talk about their experiences on the (farming) block and how they don't have much water," he says. "I just thought it was a good thing to write about to bring it to the attention of the city people."

The local scene

Returning home to Mildura after a turbulent yet exciting week in Melbourne, Ben says the invaluable advice he learned from nationally-renowned journalists would help shape his own writing finesse.

Mildura's local newspaper sports editor, Lachlan Taylor, said Ben's work was very impressive considering he had no previous training.

"He knows what he is talking about and obviously he has got some talent," Mr Taylor says. "If he sticks at it and works really hard he may take my over my job... I probably should be worried about my job," he laughs.

"Luckily, he is only in school still so I've still got some time."

As a gifted writer and sports fanatic, Ben says it was only natural for him to combine his two great passions.

Attending St Joseph's Secondary College in Mildura, the down-to-earth Year 10 student says he grew up living and breathing sports culture. Ben says this was largely thanks to his family's strong sporting background in the Mildura and Bambill Football clubs.

Age is not an issue

Despite his young age, Ben says he is driven to continue writing and does not see his age as an issue.

"I don't know if people know I'm 16... but they might be surprised if they found out," he says. "But they've also had Luke McManus previously write for the Millewa Football League when he was 16 as well," he says.

"And... he's gone on to be with The Footy Show and what he does now."

Playing cricket for the Mildura Settlers and AFL for the Mildura Football Club, Ben says juggling his sporting commitments, study and social life is an amazing balancing act.

As media officer for the Millewa Football League, Ben's typical week consists of studying games, writing online match reviews and previews and combing through various sports guides preparing for upcoming matches.

Ben hopes that through his active involvement in sport and the community he can prove that Generation Y are not just a bunch of lazy layabouts.

"I suppose we are a fairly adventurous lot who like to have a good time and I think we're pretty well-behaved most of the time," he says. "We're not as bad as everyone else thinks we are," he says.

"It's just the minority that sometimes ruin the name for us, but we don't all play Playstation and Xbox all day."

Ben is planning to complete his VCE in two years time at St Joseph's College. He says he will then need to choose the direction his life will take and will either point himself down the further education path or straight into the deep end working as a sports writer.

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