At our tenth JournoFest, How to be a Journalist host Plamedi Mbungu recorded a live episode with four podcast journalists, which was uploaded on Spotify and YouTube after the event.
The panel featured Dansplaining co-host Jordan Rason, BuzzFeed’s Seasoned Sessions producer and presenter Hanifah Rahman, The Sports Agents senior producer Adonis Pratsides and PoliticsJOE junior political correspondent Laura Beveridge.
Here, remote part-time trainee Ellie Davies shares what she learnt from the panel.
Plamedi Mbungu asked the panellists about getting into journalism, how to create a successful podcast, and the challenges they’ve faced in the industry.
Laura Beveridge said: “You are expected nowadays to do so much more than just write. You are expected to film and to edit – being a fully rounded journalist is really important.”
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Hanifah Rahman agreed, saying: “It’s important to have a portfolio and build on that as much as you can.
“Set your goals ahead long term and work on your personal projects whilst taking skills from the workplace.”
@newsassociates_ @BuzzFeed UK head of O&O and @Seasoned presenter Hanifah Rahman shares a few tips for interview prep for ‘How to be a Journalist’ LIVE at JournoFest 🎉 #JournoFest #HTBAJ #SeasonedSessions #LivePodcast ♬ original sound – 🧍🏾♀️🧍🏾♀️
Adonis Pratsides added: “I think a lot of things come down to timing, luck, and setting a consistent bar for the quality of work you want to produce and hitting that as much as you can. If you deliver, you will find the opportunities.”
The panellists discussed the reasons podcasts fail and stressed the important of originality.
Jordan Rason said: “It is tough and can be soul destroying at times, so you have to be passionate. If you’re doing it for yourself and nobody else, you’ll be fine.
“You also need to get through the first ten episodes and build up that rhythm.”
Pratsides said: “When podcasts try to imitate, they fail. Understand who you are and who you’re trying to speak to.”
@newsassociates_ Let us know your thoughts on ‘How to be a Journalist’ LIVE at the Twickenham Stoop in the comments 🎙️ Hear from PoliticsJOE junior political correspondent Laura Beveridge on Spotify and YouTube 🌟 #HTBAJ #PoliticalJournalist #Producer #LauraBeveridge ♬ original sound – News Associates
Rahman spoke about the beginning of the Seasoned Sessions podcast to their 200th episode featuring Cynthia Erivo.
She said: “We recorded four or five practice episodes, and then we just went for it. It’s weekly podcasts so we had to keep putting them out, and practice makes improvement.
“The interview with Cynthia was emotional, we all cried. It showed how long the journey’s been, and what happens when you’re allowed to just do your thing. It was really powerful.”
You can read all the highlights and top tips from JournoFest 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024 here.