Nas Campanella
Nas Campanella | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1989 Western Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, inspirational speaker |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Known for | National Disability Affairs Reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; first blind newsreader to independently operate studio during live broadcasts |
Nas Campanella is an Australian journalist serving as the National Disability Affairs Reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, frequently featured on ABC News. Having been blind since six months of age, she has been contributing to ABC since 2011.
Career
Campanella obtained a communications degree from the University of Technology Sydney and commenced her career at ABC as a cadet journalist in Sydney in 2011. Initially, she worked as a regional reporter and newsreader based in Bega, before transitioning to a newsreader role at JJJ in 2013. In 2020, she was named ABC's inaugural Disability Affairs Reporter.
She holds the distinction of being the first blind newsreader globally to independently manage studio operations during live broadcasts. Beyond journalism, Campanella is an inspirational speaker focusing on inclusive education and assistive technology, while also providing mentorship to people with disabilities and mental health conditions.
Disability
Blind from infancy due to retinal detachment, Campanella also lives with Charcot-Marie Tooth syndrome, which limits her ability to read Braille. Since she cannot see live television prompts, she relies on JAWS screen reading software that audibly conveys on-screen text and audio signals throughout her broadcasts.
Personal life
Born in 1989 in Western Sydney into an Australian-Italian family, Campanella overcame early difficulties with reading to graduate as dux of her high school. She is married to ABC presenter Thomas Oriti, and together they have a son named Lachie.