My first term at The School of Journalism was everything I expected it to be – busy, hands-on and exciting, writes first-year trainee Adam Wareing.
Just a few months into my BA (Hons) Journalism degree, I’ve interviewed Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, and reviewed everything from musicals, bands and hostels to a water taxi and a seven-hour canal tour!
The pace was set early when my first story was published on Mancunian Matters on my first day, and from then we’ve all been barraged with opportunities.
Luke and I reported on the Manchester Ship Canal Cruise, which was completely out of our comfort zones, but I enjoyed making a mobile journalism video package – using the iPad we are all given at the start of our course – despite the lengthy journey!
With a variety of stories to cover, I’ve discovered I have an interest for just about everything and am already realising my strengths and weaknesses.
We’re often told journalists need to know a little about a lot, and The School of Journalism is helping me do just that.
With the post-graduate courses running in the office too, we have the chance to make friends (and contacts!) over dinner and a game of pool.
Getting to know people in a smaller environment than a traditional university is much easier, something that helped me become a writer for City Watch.
I was offered an opportunity to write a trial piece after I approached one of the existing writers on the News Associates NCTJ multimedia sports journalism course – and now I am part of the team.
Our lessons are packed with activities that simulate a newsroom environment perfectly, while the forfeits certainly force the art of triple checking for errors!
My favourite exercise was being sent to find a story in the city centre, and, after brainstorming over a pint, Kieran and I banged on Deansgate railway station’s doors to get the opinion of two lonely workers on the strike action that led to its temporary closure.
As part of the course we also get to write for Sportsbeat, which has given me a real insight into the pressures of working in sports journalism.
Reporting on Sale FC on a cold Saturday in Rugby Union’s second division (north) brought its challenges – having no clock to time tries by, no tannoy system and an incorrect team-sheet…
And my word count for The Rugby Paper changed twice during the game ahead of the full-time deadline – but I felt I handled the pressure well and loved the thrill of it all.
My fingers are about to fall off covering @SaleFC v @BlaydonRFC 😂 pic.twitter.com/w0ytvTT5vZ
— Adam Wareing (@Adam_Wareing) December 9, 2017
I’m looking forward to my next term when I can improve even more and widen my journalistic experience.
If you want to study journalism in Manchester or London, click here for how to apply to The School of Journalism.
Got a question about our BA (Hons) Journalism degree plus NCTJ? Email [email protected]