My time with the Medway News
Laina Tuff
With my growing interest in journalism, in year 11 I decided to organise my own work experience. I wanted to do this for several reasons. Firstly, I wasn’t sure what type of journalism I was most interested in pursuing…print? radio? TV? It was all so confusing, and I felt that any placement would at least define my interest a bit. Secondly, as I want to go on to university, I needed to make sure that journalism was the right career path for me. How could I really be sure of this if I had no actual experience of what it was like? Another reason was that the experience would allow me to talk with employees interested in a similar career to me, who could then give me advice and opinions on the best routes toward the career, and so on.
So what did I do? Well, I thought long and hard. I thought about the different areas and aimed for the highest first -TV. This unfortunately was near enough impossible to get a placement in. The local TV studios would not take on any work placements under the age of 18. So, on to the next option… radio! I emailed several local radio stations to find that most again didn’t take on people under the age of 18. For the few that did; I was unfortunately too late in applying and places had already been taken. So, I can’t exaggerate enough how important it is to get looking for those placements as early as possible!
So, it was on to the last area, print journalism…
I emailed every local magazine and newspaper I could think of, using the Yellow Pages to help me with my search. Finally I received a reply from the Medway News! I remember my heart skipping a beat when I read the first email reply that wasn’t a negative, ‘sorry we can’t take you!’ Finally, the wait had paid off and I had a week booked in June with the local newspaper! The editor called me up near to my placement to follow-up the work routine with me, discussing dress code and letting me know what time I was to start and finish work.
My first day in the office and I was so nervous! I had bought smart new clothes especially and arrived a bit too early! But my nerves quickly turned into excitement and eagerness to get started as my editor greeted me at the entrance and showed me to the office. I was introduced to the friendly team of journalists and my placement supervisor (one of the journalists who helped me out during my placement). I had my own space at the desk too, complete with phone and Apple MAC!
I have to say, I was expecting to get there and be making teas for everyone – you know like you hear in the stories -but was delightfully surprised to be dropped right into the work! On my first day, I started out by getting used to the computer system. I learnt how to write up articles by typing up some of the journalist’s pieces in the correct format. Just as I was finishing and worrying about what I was going to do next…dreading being sent to make the teas! I got called out with one of the journalists to do a public survey! I panicked at the thought of asking random people in the street questions, but once we got to the location it was actually really fun and I soon got into it!
The rest of the week was just as varied and I certainly didn’t touch a single tea bag! On my second day I wrote up a few more articles and made several phone calls. It was a strange feeling saying the opening line, ‘Hi, this is Alaina Tuff from the Medway News,’ but I could get used to it! One phone call was to a company Press Office to find out some facts for one of the journalist’s stories, and another to arrange an interview for me later that week! I really was getting involved! I even went on a story with one of the journalists to interview a team involved in building a new local NHS centre. All in a days work!
Mid-week I wrote a music review that was to be published in the final newspaper and got called out on a story again with another journalist, this time to interview an elderly couple who were celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary! That’s one thing I loved about the placement – the fact that it was so varied! Every day was really different, some stories serious, others more fun and relaxed, you never knew where you were going or what was going to be thrown at you. I guess that’s one thing about journalism, it’s as unexpected as life itself, and one thing you have to be prepared for is variety and surprises!
I can’t go without mentioning the one phone call I got to my line when a local woman called in claiming to have spotted a UFO! I told you each day was diverse! Now whether this was a true call or just someone winding me up on my work experience placement, until this day I don’t know!
On my last day I got to go out with one of the journalists and do an interview. I was nervous about conducting an interview on my own, but found the talking bit easier than expected. It was writing it all down that was the problem! Luckily one of the team was there to back me up on that! I guess that’s why journalists have to learn shorthand because, as I realised, it’s actually impossible to get everything down otherwise!
I have to admit, after looking for so long, my work placement was definitely worth it! I loved every minute, as every day was completely different! The people I worked with were really welcoming and gave me a lot of advice as to what direction to go in next. The whole experience in general benefited me with a lot of new skills. My self-confidence grew; I found independence and expanded on communication skills. With these personal skills came some of the more work-based knowledge that is needed to work in a media environment too.
The placement gave me a taste of the print side of things and I am now looking to expand my horizons more toward the radio and TV, using this initial experience. This year I am hoping to find some work experience with a local radio station.
I have decided on a Broadcast Journalism course at university, which without the work experience placement, I wouldn’t have been so sure on doing before.
I definitely recommend work experience for any young person. It’s a great experience not only to get into the world of work and gain everyday skills, but also to build on your own character. It provides a new sense of independence and confidence in yourself and in the way that you handle situations and other people. Throwing yourself into something new is always a daunting thought, but once you go for it, you come out realising you were worrying for no reason and that you CAN do it!