So you want to be a journalist?
27 April 2012
 |
Find out more about what happened at the all-day conference ‘So You Want To Be A Journalist?’, which was partly sponsored by BU. |
27 April 2012
|
Find out more about what happened at the all-day conference ‘So You Want To Be A Journalist?’, which was partly sponsored by BU. |
Print, online and broadcast journalists gathered at City University London on 25 April for So You Want To Be A Journalist? They were at the event to share their knowledge and experience with those looking to break into the profession.
The all-day conference, partly sponsored by Bournemouth University, was organised by freelance journalists Janet Murray and Louise Tickle, and featured speakers ranging from Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow to The Sun on Sunday columnist and author, Toby Young.
The opening panel discussed how news delivery is rapidly evolving, and how journalists are adapting to keep up. Jon Snow professed that television was maintaining its position in the continually developing media age: “I don’t think TV will die, I think it has found its place.” He did not have such a positive outlook for newsprint, making the prediction that newspapers would not exist within 10 years.
BU’s Online Journalist in Residence Liisa Rohumaa then chaired the discussion ‘Data is Sexy’, which featured James Ball, data journalist for The Guardian, Helen Lewis, assistant editor of the New Statesman and Paul Bradshaw, founder of Help Me Investigate.
James Ball said: “More and more stories are emerging from data, for example the latest unemployment statistics are from data and the MP’s expenses scandal came from data. Stories we get from data make the front pages every two weeks or so.”
James also backed up the fact that data journalism is growing in popularity by pointing out the Data Blog is one of the most read parts of The Guardian’s website.
Bournemouth University sponsored the Break into Broadcast session, with a panel made up of Tom Bradby, political editor for ITV News, Marc Ashworth, reporter for BBC London, Jenny Kleeman, documentary maker for Unreported World, John Domokos, video producer for The Guardian and Charlene White, ITN News presenter.
Tom Bradby gave wannabe journalists top tips on how to impress in interviews for a broadcast job, stating:
“The first question I ask is, so what did you think of the News at 10 last night? If you say, sorry I didn’t watch it I was down the pub with my mates, that’s the end of the interview. If you say it was okay, but I didn’t think you had the right lead story, you’re making progress, and if I ask did you watch the BBC News at 10 and you say yes and Sky News at 10, then I will be impressed.”
Bournemouth University also sponsored the lively feature and profile writing session with Simon Hattenstone from The Guardian and Camilla Long profile writer for The Times.