Bright Future for Sports Journalism Star

With positions at global powerhouses ESPN and Reuters already under his belt and Match of the Day presenter, Mark Chapman, as his industry mentor, the future’s looking bright for third year Sports Journalism student, Shaun Dacosta.

A potent blend of hard work, perseverance, and being in the right place at the right time all combined to help Shaun seize the opportunities in front of him. It was while filming the football team Hashtag United, set up by a YouTuber with more than one million followers, who were playing in Newquay, that Shaun met a contact who was able to help him secure a placement at ESPN.

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Sports Journalism BA(Hons)

ESPN were so impressed with Shaun they extended his work experience to a paid position which saw him editing and uploading videos for their YouTube channel.

Shaun told us: "By far and away the best video I did for ESPN was when Usain Bolt made his debut for the West Coast Mariners. It’s already had three million views and, from it, there was a ten percent increase in subscribers to the YouTube channel.”

It was during his time at ESPN that Shaun met Mark Chapman: “He’s always been an idol of mine, he’s so clear speaking and is brilliant at engaging everyone he interviews and talks to. He’s unbiased, clear, and one of the best presenters out there. While I was at ESPN, I saw him in the pub and plucked up the courage to ask his advice on how to make it the industry.

“He was really impressed with the initiative I’d shown, was full of useful advice and from there offered to be my mentor which is both brilliant and surreal!”