A very good question.
The first thing that I would point to is my four years at University. Over these years I have learned many skills from print to television which I hope will stand me in good stead. In first year we learned the very basics of print journalism looking at what makes up a news story. This involved looking at press releases and writing stories up on that basis. We moved on to interviewing people and eventually finding our own stories. This was a slow process but has helped me when I have ventured into the world of work.
After my first year I was keen to get out there and see what I could do. So I took up an offer from the Guernsey Press to go over and do a weeks work experience. This went extremely well as I was actually getting out and sourcing stories of my own and interviewing people. This led to my first byline and what a buzz this was. I went on to experience many things that I didn’t think were possible from my first proper stint at a newspaper. I visited court, a prison, schools and went to their version of a festival. My confidence was at an all time.
I returned to University with a spring in my step ready for anything that they could throw at me. This came in the shape of radio journalism; a section that I enjoyed greatly. Firstly we were taught how to write scripts which was a different prospect from writing for print. It had to be much shorter and even more to the point than the print side. This was different but its safe to say I thrived on it.
I returned to Guernsey again, this time for another week. This was just as entertaining as the first visit but this time I had a bit more about me. I mean I had three years of Uni behind. This made a difference as I was given more responsibilty and let loose more to a certain extent. I followed this up with a week in Alderney but as there was nothing to write about it proved not so productive. I had a picture published and went to a town meeting but that was were it ended.
By that time I was really being moulded into an all action journalist. Then third year came along and with it came TV journalism, something that its safe to say that I am not interested in following up. Although it went well and I learned new skills such as writing for television and performing piece to cameras. This module just wasn’t for me, but did help me realise what I wanted to specialise in and that was print.
We went on to create a magazine as a class which was to be distributed in bars, cafes and various places around Edinburgh. I was part of the production team and helped design the cover and put the magazine together. This proved a difficult experience but one that I feel stronger for doing.
I took this experience on to my next job placement at Summerhall Press where I was asked to produce a magazine on a new printer (not a subject that I have any great passion for but it was work). I completed the 14 page booklet after researching the product. This showcased the fact that I get on with things. Not everything you do in journalism will necessarily be to your tastes but you have to do what you have do.
I was also asked to interview Stuart Latta, an employee of Summerhall, about a new set of offices that they were opening in Hawick. After I had gathered all the information I needed from Stuart, I wrote up a story which would be on the front page on a their newsletter. (this features in work experience part 3)
The second half of third year came and my all time favourite module; Online Journalism where we were allowed to follow a specific interest which in my case was football. However, I later decided just to concentrate on Hearts. This has allowed me to contect with other bloggers and get immediate feedback to my stories. With the way that journalism is I know that being part of the blogging community is key.
So summer came and guess what? I returned to Guernsey for another stint. This time I made front page with a story which I sourced completely on my own. I didn’t get as much in the paper this time as they had a new set of trainees that were getting all the new stuff. I was delegated to do a number of voxpops which got me talking to people and in one case getting a quote from a minister that would later go into someone elses story. Voxpops forced me to talk to a wide range of people, some who spoke to me and some who were just rude.
So to my final year. A year were we have had the chance to put all the skills we had learned into practice in one class. The Multimedia newsroom allowed us to demonstrate what we could. Working to deadlines, subbing and giving us a feel that we were actually in a newsroom environment.
At present I am working for CMYK Design who have won the contract for Highland Airways inflight magazine; Aurora. This has involved me doing a destinations section advising people where to eat, drink and giving them vital information on public transport to and from the airport. I am also compiling a page on events and festivals that are going on in the places featured; Inverness, Stornoway, Benbecula, Coll, Tiree, Cardiff and Anglesay. This has proved to be interesting as I am discovering a part of the world I had never seen before.
So it has to be asked why would you hire me. Well I hope the wide range of experience I have over my four years will help greatly. Not only this but the diversity of the articles I have produced. Court reports, information on a printer and a music festival to name but a few. I am passionate about writing and
You’d be a fool not to.
But in all seriousness I want to keep improving and I’m sure their is a lot more still to learn, but I believe I’ve gained enough experience and knowledge to make my way in the world of journalism.
