Let's get personal

Hello, I am Diego Lorijn, Dutch/Spanish by origin, and now a TV presenter fluent in four languages. How I got into the world of broadcasting could be considered unorthodox. At the age of 34, I was on the verge of becoming a father for the first time. The startup I co-founded was on its last legs, and the inevitability of having to return to working in marketing or business development was sinking in.

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Yet, on one late winter evening, I found myself sitting out on the balcony. The cold Barcelona breeze, underestimated and underrated in its frigid and frosty impact, shook me awake and blew in my ears the notion that the only way forward was to seek opportunities where I could apply my natural ability to communicate.

Since I was a kid, I have been drawn to performers – professionals who can convey their talents and passion to a crowd, whether musically, through sports, stand-up comedy, or acting. I always knew that my true vocation was in entertainment.

However, what had always been a mere fascination became a reality on that late cold winter evening. I decided that it was time. I was going to be living proof to my son that even at the mature age of 34, it is never too late to follow and fight for your dreams. I was going to become a presenter.

 

How?

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I decided to focus on one of my big passions in life – sports, particularly football. I was going to use my strategic location, Barcelona, to provide niche reporting about Spanish football to an international audience deprived of quality Spanish football content.

Without any prior journalistic broadcasting experience, I instilled the conviction that I could become a presenter in a reasonable and realistic amount of time. My mindset was that I could do the job. With the support of my family and the belief and sacrifices of my devoted wife, I enrolled in one of Spain's most prestigious master's programs.

The Sports Journalism program at Pompeu Fabra would serve as an academic introduction to my journalistic journey at the highest standard. To gain practical experience, I simultaneously launched a YouTube channel where I started to report from outside the Camp Nou, doing pre and post-match fan reports. This commitment was natural given that I've been a lifelong Barça supporter – a culer 'hasta la médula' of which I've been a 'soci' for over two decades.

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At 34 years old and with a newborn baby boy, time was of the essence. I felt an urgency, along with an added spark of motivation, to become an example for my son. I wanted to continue to provide for my family while proving that you can be a nurturer and also following your calling in life.

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I prioritized monetizing my work as swiftly as I could. After submitting examples of my work, I landed reporter gigs for TYT Sports, SB Nation, and Copa90. In the end, the age-old formula of perseverance, luck, and timing landed me my first big break for Mediapro at LaLiga TV. Thanks to the generosity I experienced when meeting with Graham Hunter, a longtime journalistic reference, and the trust of the recently deceased but eternal voice of LaLiga TV, Simon Hanley, I was presented with a chance to put my reporting and presenting skills to the test. I initially became a reporter and then one of the hosts of the channel's flagship program, Viva LaLiga – a ninety-minute live studio show. 

 

From here, I gained further broadcasting experience working for the top esports competition, E.football.pro, founded by Gerard Pique. Simultaneously, I continued collaborating with premier independent media companies such as Copa90 and LaLiga Lowdown, a project initiated by SkySports presenter David Garrido. 

 

In just one year, facing a steep learning curve, I rapidly gleaned experience from the professionals around me, cultivating a hosting style distinct from the traditional presenter.

My innate presenting skills have allowed me the pleasure and privilege of realizing dreams, like reporting on daily FC Barcelona affairs for Barça TV+. There, I was given the opportunity to host a wide range of shows – from game shows to live match/player presentation shows, magazine and news shows. Meeting and interviewing sporting legends such as Andres Iniesta, Pau and Marc Gasol, Gary Lineker, and childhood idol Ronald Koeman, among many other world-renowned personalities, was a true honor and a huge experience.

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With my Master's in Sports Journalism from the renowned Pompeu Fabra University – ranked number 1 in Spain and among the top 20 highest-ranked young universities in the world – today, I am a lecturer there, specializing in the Conversation & Comprehension of English Sports Journalism module.

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Coming from a multicultural background and upbringing, my ambitions are to expand my presenting skills and explore other projects, such as hosting a travel show or engaging in other enticing documentaries.

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To satisfy my daily broadcasting urge, I have been co-hosting the Churros y Tácticas podcast twice a week for six years, where, along with Kiyan Sobhani, the Chief Editor of the world's largest Real Madrid platform, Managing Madrid, we discuss the latest in the Spanish football scene, as well as other pressing worldly topics.

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After having lived in seven countries, I currently reside in Barcelona with my wife and two kids. And so I continue my road, looking for the next challenge and opportunities where I can use my skills and expertise.