麻豆约拍

As : its first ever trainee scheme in the region for journalists with disabilities, Ellis Palmer, Journalist, 麻豆约拍 News (World Online) blogs about his experience working for the 麻豆约拍.

My name is Ellis Palmer. I'm a wheelchair using journalist here at World Online at the 麻豆约拍.

My condition, cerebral palsy, means that I am unable to walk long distances and balance can be a significant issue. I also wear hearing aids as I have moderate hearing loss. However, that has not become a barrier to me becoming a journalist here at the 麻豆约拍.

Every day, I write what I like to call the “first draft of history”: articles, features, and content for the international section of the 麻豆约拍 News website. In many ways, it is my dream job. I studied international politics and Hispanic studies at the University of Birmingham, before going on to do a Masters in contemporary democracies and nationalism over in Barcelona.

As well as English, I am fluent in Catalan and Spanish, so I often find myself writing stories from Europe and Latin America in order to use my languages on a daily basis. Although you never quite know what the day is going to bring. Although my day-to-day bread-and-butter is writing about international news and current affairs, I've also had the privilege to be able to use my experiences as a disabled person to create original, thought-provoking journalism.

, which aired on 麻豆约拍 News and on current affairs television shows (as well as getting over 500,000 views on social media and the 麻豆约拍 News website). 

In society at large, my disability is often a barrier in accessing resources that I need to live and, yes, let's not be shy about it: even in 2018, all too often ones disability is what defines oneself in the public eye. Yes, this can lead to prejudicial attitudes, stigma, and people being afraid to engage with disabled people socially or in society at large.

I grew up on Merseyside in northern England and went to a mainstream primary school and a comprehensive secondary school on a former council estate. I was sometimes advised to take "easier" subjects on account of my disability. Fortunately, I persisted: I studied the subjects I wanted to. I went on to university and to get my dream job here at the 麻豆约拍.

At the 麻豆约拍, my condition has not been a barrier in any way shape or form. The support I’ve received here from day one it’s been absolutely fantastic.

The corporation provided me with excellent assistive technology that allows me to do my job just as well, if not better than, many of my fellow journalists. It's things like voice to text technology that that allow me to write my articles faster as I'm a one fingered one-handed typist owing to my condition. I have the most wonderful Bluetooth-enabled technology that allows me to be able to hear my colleagues in meetings, as oftentimes, when one is working in busy, noisy newsroom, it can be quite difficult to hear one's colleagues.

Journalism is about telling stories: we all have powerful stories to tell about ourselves, our friends, our families, and our communities. That is why, if you believe you have a story to tell and can tell it in a powerful, engaging way, I would urge you to apply to the 麻豆约拍.

This is a place for everyone, you can work for the 麻豆约拍 and you can make the 麻豆约拍 work for you.

Ellis Palmer, Journalist, 麻豆约拍 News (World Online)

Applications for 麻豆约拍 Arabic's AimHigh close on Sunday 22 April 2018

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