Tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose to study your course.

As a child, I wasn’t bothered about films or games. I was more interested in books and writing. As soon as I was able to hold a pencil, my dad would print me sheets of paper with 5 lines for writing and a box for drawing, and I would go away and craft the craziest stories you could imagine. Over the years, my interest in writing developed into a curiosity for video and vlogging. You’d best believe, wherever I go, my camera goes with me, and I love to put together video montages of special occasions or events.

Over the years, this hobby has enabled me to improve my editing skills and I really enjoy the creative nature of visual storytelling. Choosing to study BA (Hons) Journalism was a natural progression for me. I wanted to hone the skills I’d developed myself, learn the ethical foundations of the profession, and develop a wider perspective of the media. My studies at Leeds Beckett have equipped me with the tools to research thoroughly, write compellingly, and report accurately. To be able to do something that I love and call it a career would be a dream come true, which is why I love studying journalism.

What have been the highlights of your course experience?

I couldn’t name just one individual highlight on my course, however something I particularly enjoy about journalism at Leeds Beckett is how hands-on it is. Not only is it useful to practise with industry-standard equipment and state-of-the-art facilities, but it’s also really rewarding to see the finished product that you have crafted, and it’s great that we are constantly adding new pieces to our portfolios for prospective employers.

Being taught by lecturers who have had extensive experience in the industry is really useful. They offer us vital tips through anecdotes from their time in the industry. Better still, many of our lecturers still work in the industry so they often give us up-to-date advice about what we should be doing. Being taught by working journalists opens doors for us as students and means we are offered multiple opportunities to get involved in the industry and get that valuable experience.

This, along with having guest speakers and workshops such as our annual Meet-The-Media event, is really useful in helping us to get our foot in the door and get our names out there to professionals in the industry. This makes the prospect of getting a post-graduate job a little less daunting.

How would you say the course helps you to utilise your previous experiences and skills?

The journalism course at Leeds Beckett focuses on offering a practical, hands-on approach to teaching with a major focus on accuracy. When I started university, I was quite introverted, so the thought of approaching strangers in the street or ringing someone up to ask for an interview was terrifying! However, I can now conduct interviews confidently, and I feel my communication skills, both written and verbal, have really advanced as a result of my course.

We are sent out into the real world to speak to real people about real matters. The content we create is proper, newsworthy material, so we can see the relevance of the work we produce. We know the standard that is expected, and we are always encouraged to aim high, which is something I find very motivating.

I have been able to expand my writing skills and recognise different multimedia styles, adapting my own style to suit a plethora of news outlets from print media to digital. This is a fundamental skill that I have adopted because of my studies at Leeds Beckett.

Can you tell us about your experience of any practical opportunities on the course?

My experience on my course so far has been everything I hoped it would be and more. As our lecturers never fail to remind us: “Journalism is experiential learning” and that’s exactly what Leeds Beckett offers. It’s a practical, hands-on course and we are offered countless opportunities to develop and grow.

After just 6 months of studying journalism at Leeds Beckett, I was granted a place on an all-expenses paid trip to San Diego, accompanying and creating content for the university’s Rugby Union team and sports sector. Not only was this a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it also looks great on my CV.

Whether it be reporting at the Crown Court, sitting in on Full Council meetings, or attending networking events, the Leeds Beckett journalism department are constantly offering opportunities to get hands-on experience in the real world and connect with professionals to make walking into a post-graduate job that little bit easier.

Would you recommend this course to others, if so, why?

I would absolutely recommend Leeds Beckett as a place to study journalism. The guidance we receive from our lecturers is fair and reflective of the industry. They don’t spoon feed us but instead offer support where necessary, providing additional sessions for those who feel they need extra practice. However, support from the journalism department goes further than the classroom. Our lecturers are always happy to offer in-depth explanations promptly over email or phone call. This is something I’ve found particularly noteworthy.

Our lecturers go above and beyond to assist us. The feedback we receive after newsdays or assignments is tailored to every individual in such depth and detail. Our lecturers demonstrate a genuine commitment to our success and well-being.

The opportunities Leeds Beckett offer are next to none and I feel we are given the chance to really shine and stand out. With bi-annual student feedback forums, I really feel I have a voice at Leeds Beckett, and they are committed to ensuring they are offering the best possible experience.

What are your plans for the future? 

When I started journalism at Leeds Beckett, I didn’t necessarily have an end goal in mind. I was hoping that my plan would become clear during my time at university, and I’d get a better idea of which areas of the industry I’m interested in, and that’s exactly what has happened.

My time on the course has seen me find a deeper interest in broadcast journalism and this is a route I’m keen to go down when I graduate. I’m not sure exactly what that will look like yet, be it TV or Radio, however, luckily for me, I enjoy all aspects of broadcasting so the idea of trying out lots of different areas really excites me.

I love the flexibility a journalism degree offers. As someone who is quite indecisive and likes to switch things up, with a journalism degree there are so many different career options available to you which is something that I find really attractive about it. It’s my hope that journalism will allow me to continue to travel to new places, to do extraordinary things, meet fascinating people, and have once-in-a-lifetimes experiences, as I have done so far on my course.