So Far...

Let's get everyone up to date shall we.

Now that I'm in my third year at Uni, I thought it was about time to start planning what to do when I graduate. The thought of graduating with nowhere to go and nothing to do motivated me to the point of obsession. Every day over the christmas holidays I would send out CV's and cover letters to papers or companies I could potentially get work experience with. I knew that I would never get a job as a journalist without experience.

When googling "journalism", I discovered the NCTJ course. I had been told about it before my Henry Claridge, my University lecturer, but at the time hadn't fully grasped how useful it would be to do it. Not only would they teach me the basic skills to be a journalist, but also taught me parts of the career I'd need that I hadn't even thought about; Media Law, shorthand etc.

I had written off an MA at the beginning of last term as I really wanted to get a job and get my career started, but the NCTJ seemed like it would be invaluable if I really wanted to get serious about journalism, so I applied to the new course at the London Press Association. At first I was a little scared; I felt like a fraud. Instead of writing articles every spare minute while at University I had been concentrating on my degree and not really involving myself in anything else; something I truly regret now.

I was honest in the application, told them I had little experience but do have some planned (of which I will go onto later). I wrote what I would like to think was a heartfelt yet intelligent application showcasing my abilities and work ethic. I sent it off yesterday...and got an interview today. Though I am incredibly happy at this first step, I do not feel by any means that I will certainly get into the course. Far from it. Not only is the London course at the top of the NCTJ results table, but I had been told how hard it is to get on the course. With only a small portfolio and my degree to back me up, at first I almost felt like they wouldn't take me because I had nothing yet to offer- maybe they would think I was lazy or just another English student who didn't know what to do so went for the most obvious, though not the easiest option.

I hope to show in the interview this is not the case. And even if I don't get in, I will just apply again next year when I have more experience. I am optimistic.

I have a few weeks work experience at the News Shopper and The Canterbury Times in the Spring too which I cannot wait for. I am still enjoying my degree but I am so eager to get out and start my career and get as involved as I can that I am almost looking forward to graduating.

I have joined the University Newspaper and will be writing for them soon. I am waiting to get the go on an article about a new Student Village going up on Campus that apparently some residents are furious about, so that should be a lot of fun interviewing them. And I'm not even being sarcastic.
I have also just been asked to write an article for my local magazine in London: "SENine". The article actually seems really interesting, I have to interview a male Nurse who gets to his patience by bike in London so as to avoid traffic.

I was hoping to interview him next week but he is not available so I may have to travel back from Canterbury to London tomorrow. But I am excited.

I feel like I have so much happening and I've never been more busy with the articles and the applications and interviews and work experience and my degree...but it is really exciting, and for the first time in a long time I feel like I could be really entering into something that makes me happy.

I hope this hasn't been too boring, but at the same time I don't care as this is my own personal blog and no one will read it anyway :).

I will post when I have had the interview with the nurse!