Rianna Croxford: Defying Barriers in Journalism
- Alyssa Stevenson
- Mar 24, 2025
- 4 min read
Showing how diversity is a NEED and not a want in the newsroom
By Alyssa Stevenson
One thing that I have worried about in my last year of college is that I won’t have the skills I need to be successful in my future career. Imposter syndrome hits hard like a punch, and it becomes very hard to heal the bruise left. One person that has eased this sore spot for me is Rianna Croxford. She has proven to be an incredible reporter through her stories and multiple awards in journalism. Though, it hasn’t always been easy for her. From graduating with a degree in English Literature, knowing no one in the field, to simply just being a young black woman, she had the odds stacked against her. She combined her passion for writing and sharing stories from underrepresented communities and took the reporting world by storm. Because of this passion, she is currently BBC’s youngest ever news correspondent. Croxford has made me realize that the original path we start on is not the only option, and I can use my youth and hunger for the industry to my advantage. Most of all, she has taught me how important it is to have drive, sensitivity and curiosity in the workplace.
How her drive landed her in the lap of journalism
In 2018, Croxford was fresh on the scene and a recent graduate from the University of Cambridge. Finding herself in the tough position of wanting to go into journalism, but getting rejected from jobs constantly, she didn’t have connections early on to guide her path. She wasn’t going to give up, so she took courses with the National Council for the Training of Journalists, and her career began to take off.
“It’s so hard to break into the industry especially if you’re from a non-traditional background,” said Croxford, according to Royal Television Society. “I didn't know anyone who had ever been in journalism, I didn't have financial support, so in some ways it felt like a bit of a gamble, but I'm glad looking back it's one that I took.”
Even through the self-doubt, she strived to make it in a situation where most would have already given up. She went on to do an internship as a news reporter for the Financial Times, and from there, she went out on a limb and contacted BBC about doing an internship as a part of a trial scheme.
Her sensitivity is her superpower
Since starting at BBC, Croxford has covered many serious and taboo topics. One of the biggest being the Abercrombie & Fitch scandal with former CEO Mike Jeffries. Croxford has conducted years of research into the exploitation and sexual abuse of male models from Abercrombie & Fitch and has released two documentaries on the subject, “World of Secrets: The Abercrombie Guys,” and “The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool.” Her work led to the arrests of Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and their middlemen for sex trafficking.
Researching these types of topics for several years can be a daunting and even traumatizing experience for some. Despite that, Croxford rises to the challenge time and time again to not only shine light on these situations, but to help voice underrepresented communities.
“What I knew I could do as a journalist is use my sensitivity, I could use my access and my understanding to make people feel comfortable and to make people feel heard, and to do stories that mattered to them,” said Croxford in an interview with X City +. “I could build that trust. I understand the culture. I understand the concerns.”
Her curiosity is her guiding light
Stories rarely come naturally ready to publish. It takes research, planning, and interviewing to produce a well-thought-out story. One way that Croxford has produced some of her best work is simply through talking to people. She finds an interesting community or topic, goes out and talks to people, then finds the deeper questions.
“It’s about making connections, introducing yourself to community groups and striking up random conversations,” said Croxford in an interview with Royal Television Society. “I think the vast majority of stories come from word of mouth and actually wondering is there a bigger problem than this, and asking questions off the back of that.”
Croxford has used her youth, strive, sensitivity to serious issues and curiousity to push through the industry, solving cases and making changes for marginalized communities. Often times when journalists and public relations professionals start in the industry, it can feel like a vast ocean with no life raft or map to navigate. There is a favor towards seniority that even the most qualified newbies cannot escape. When I see a young journalist like Croxford making actual change at such a young age, it reminds me that I am not alone on where I started, and that I can make big differences too. She proves that young, diverse voices are needed in the newsroom and workplace to highlight issues that seasoned professionals might miss.
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About the Author:
Alyssa Stevenson is a new public relations professional completing her final semester at the University of North Texas, majoring in Journalism with a concentration in public relations. She is currently the media manager for Orion Moto, a Fort-Worth based motorsports company and the PR Manager for UNT’s Ad Club chapter. She is looking to go into event coordination or strategic planning post-graduation.
Sources:
About | Rianna Croxford. (2020). Rianna Croxford. https://www.riannacroxford.com/about
Cottrell, I. (2021, March 31). BBC News correspondent Rianna Croxford: “Stories are about people, come from people and start with people.” Royal Television Society. https://rts.org.uk/article/bbc-news-correspondent-rianna-croxford-stories-are-about-people-come-people-and-start-people
Stearn, E. (2021, May 20). An interview with Rianna Croxford, BBC’s youngest news correspondent. XCity Plus. https://xcityplus.com/politics/9277/a-year-of-investigations-and-online-trolling-an-interview-with-the-bbcs-rianna-croxford/
Rianna Croxford. (2018). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/rianna-croxford/
U.S. Attorney's Office. (2024, October 22). Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch and Two Other
Individuals Charged with Sex Trafficking and Interstate Prostitution. Justice.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-ceo-abercrombie-fitch-and-two-other-individuals-charged-sex-trafficking-and
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