For Della Fowler, a chance opportunity to report on gymnastics sparked a passion that has led her all the way to covering the Olympics.
Fowler, a student in Kent State's journalism program, fell in love with gymnastics reporting after covering her first meet for TV2.
“Literally the minute I walked onto that floor, it just felt right,” Fowler said. “I cried during my first meet, not because anything was sad, but just because I loved it so much.”
That initial experience set her on a path that led to an internship with Inside Gymnastics, the premier source for gymnastics news that she had long followed on social media. As the magazine geared up for coverage of the 2024 Olympics, it took the step of having interns for the first time ever.
“The timing worked out so well,” Fowler said. Her video editing skills made her particularly valuable as the publication wanted to expand its digital presence.
The internship quickly turned into more substantial opportunities. Fowler was invited to help cover the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
“It's my favorite new two truths and a lie game to say I've met Simone Biles, because nobody thinks that I have,” Fowler said.
While she won't be making video content on-site in Paris due to broadcast rights restrictions, Fowler will play a key role in Inside Gymnastics' Olympic coverage from home. She'll monitor live feeds, edit video packages, create social media content and help produce in-depth features.
“It's really an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Fowler said.
Fowler credits her Kent State coursework for preparing her for these high-stakes assignments. Classes like broadcast reporting with School of Media and Journalism instructor Gretchen Hoak gave her extensive practice producing news packages. Involvement with the campus TV station allowed her to further hone those skills.
The course sport and the media taught by Kelly Campbell proved particularly valuable in shaping Fowler's approach to athlete interviews.
“These athletes are used to working in the gym, not having a million microphones in their faces. They’re more than a famous athlete, they’re a person who worked their whole life for this moment,” Fowler said. “That class changed my approach.”
Getting out of the fan mindset helped Fowler stay composed when interviewing gymnastics stars she had long admired.
“Going into U.S. championships, interviewing these people that I've literally spent my whole life obsessing over, it was really, really hard to stay chill,” she said. “But I remembered from my classes that we talked about how this is a job for them. This is a thing people do. And we’re in work mode. I’m on the clock.”
Fowler sees sports journalism as her long-term career path. She's grateful for how her Kent State experience expanded her view of what was possible in the field.
“Before I thought that women really couldn't be sports reporters, or you had to be really, really, really good," said Fowler, who is from Texas. "After coming to Kent and taking all these classes, it really built my confidence and made me say, you know what, I can do this.”
Her advice to aspiring sports journalists, especially women: “Never let anybody tell you no.”
“It's not about being cocky. It's about being confident in yourself and your ability," Fowler said. “Especially for women who want to go into the sports world, it's so hard. Every single time I bring up the fact that I'm a sports journalist, I get a ‘name five players’ kind of thing.”
As she prepares for her role in Olympic coverage, Fowler remains in awe of how far she's come. A year ago, she never imagined she'd find herself casually mentioning an encounter with Simone Biles.
“If you would have told me that I met Simone Biles in an arena restroom of all places, I would have lost my mind,” Fowler said. “But now it's my job to meet with athletes like Simone Biles.”
For Fowler, it all comes back to pursuing opportunities aligned with her passions.
“You have to find what you're good at. You have to find what makes your heart beat a little bit faster,” she said.