I am that cliché who eats, breathes and talks sports. As a child I was always one athletic girl, maybe even a tomboy to an extent. My dad would enroll my brother and I to play baseball, basketball and the most dreadful athletic thing I did was swimming. My heart was drawn towards playing America’s favourite pastime which soon became mine, baseball. Maybe it was my love for the Blue Jays or my aggression defense at third base that allowed me to be awarded with Most Improved Player. As I entered my teenage years basketball became my second love despite me riding the pine majority of the time in grade 10. I embraced the one and only start I received, sinking just two points but passing like a true point guard should.
Entering university I knew math or science were never my strong suits and I had more of a creative mindset. If I couldn’t play sports at a competitive level, I would rather be doing something in it. With the full support of my parents I ventured into the scary world of sports journalism. As hard as it was to get my foot in the door as they say, I decided to create my own opportunities.
Jobs in this day in age are not handed to you and hard to come by. The motto I have learned to live my is creating my own opportunities, being myself and bring the fun element to sports back. I have a show that is titled, “Inside the Purple Room,” that is produced well…inside my bedroom (I guess the secret is out). I provide my own analysis and commentaries on the state of affairs with the Toronto Raptors and for that matter the entire NBA. I have a fun, yet corky way of conveying my thoughts that seem to make the audience laugh.
I also host and report another show entitled, “Always Looking Up in a Short Girl’s World.” The premise behind this show is to focus on me always straining my neck looking up when it comes to interviewing various athletes based on my fascination for my love of basketball. Each episode either inspires or adds an element of humor to entice the viewers. You can also find me on Omni TV as a Feature Reporter on V-Mix. As a journalist I think of the concept ideas myself and note them down either on a pad of paper or on the bbm notebook.
RELATED: MTV Meets the NHL
My make shift speaker stand acts as my tripod when I am shooting “Inside the Purple” but as for “Always Looking Up in a Short Girl’s World,” I usually enlist the help of some trust worthy friends (who I shower with some perks from games…which include free food). I produce and edit my content in house with my Mac computer and the Final Cut editing software. That saying is true, “Once you go Mac you never go back.”
Where do I go from here? My goal is to continue to brand myself as a blogger/vlogger that knows her sports and would be the best fit on the web for any major sports network in the country. My cute, witty, edge allows me to stand out from the rest of the pack and did I mention not forget my outstanding sports knowledge. I would like to give the human perspective to the everyday sports athlete. As host/reporter for “Inside the Purple Room” and “Always Looking Up in a Short Girl’s World,” my goal is to go beyond the jersey and share with the audience something that they might not know about their favourite player along and focus in on those who fly under the radar.
The advice I would offer anyone who is thinking about getting into the media field is to, keep chasing your dreams and never give up no matter how rigorous the journey maybe. Stay true to your passion, hone your craft and most importantly keep on hustling. You can follow me on Twitter @PayalDoshiTV. Don’t forget to watch all my videos here: www.insidethepurpleroom.com or www.payaldoshi.com
RELATED: Farah Dhalla’s Secrets to Success
