Emma
Snow

In her final year of university, Emma won Gold for Best Young Presenter at the Community Radio Awards 2019 and Silver for Best Female Presenter and Best Chart Show at the Student Radio Awards 2019.

What made you choose to study at NTU?  

“I’m from Nottingham originally and before coming to Nottingham Trent University, I had managed to secure an internship at Capital FM East Midlands whilst I was studying for my A-Levels. Through this, I met former students and media professionals who recommended the Broadcast Journalism course. From the age of 16 I knew I wanted a career in TV or Radio and after looking around several universities and researching the courses, I knew that Nottingham Trent would be the best place to study for my degree.”

What were the key features that attracted you to your course?

“The most important factor for me was that the course is BJTC accredited which means that it is recognised by the likes of the BBC and ITV, which massively increases employability. Most of the lecturers still work in the industry and this was a really important factor when considering which university I wanted to study at, because it means what we are taught is up to date, particularly in the practical modules."

What do you enjoy most about your course?

"The practical element, making radio and TV packages, is definitely my favourite part and the reason I chose this course. Being able to go out and speak to people and them trusting you to tell their stories, is a great privilege. It’s brilliant to see that the course mirrors industry practices too, especially when we do News Days which is basically like being in the industry for a day!"

Has the course included any guest speakers – if so can you talk about ones you found the most useful?

“I really enjoyed the talk from BBC Panorama’s Richard Bilton. I’m a massive fan of his documentaries and so to actually hear his experiences first hand was just incredible and very inspiring. I also found the consortium meeting at the start of first year really interesting too, hearing from The Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism (CBJ) alumni and being able to chat to them about their time at university was really motivating; if they can do it, maybe I can too!”

What do you think about the course staff – include lecturers, tutors, administrators and technical staff within this. How do they support your learning and University experience?

“The lecturers on the Broadcast Journalism course are just so supportive, they really want you to do well and they want to help you become the best journalist you can be. The tech staff are always on hand in the newsroom to help with editing and even just general life advice! They get it, they know that you want to make the most of your time at university and they know how competitive the industry is.”

What do you think about the facilities available to you? :

“The facilities we have in CBJ are amongst the best provided by any university in the UK. It gives you confidence when you know how to work an industry standard radio desk and how a TV studio works- it makes it so much easier to adapt and apply the knowledge we learn at CBJ when working in the industry.”

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

“The city always has something going on! There’s so much to do, from bars, nightclubs, restaurants, to a wide variety of mainstream and independent shops (not good for my student loan)! I particularly love the Christmas Market in Nottingham. There’s never a dull moment which is especially good when trying to source news stories. The city is always buzzing and I’m proud to call Nottingham my home.”

Why would you recommend your course / NTU to someone looking to study in that area?

“I think there’s a real sense of family particularly at CBJ. Everyone is in the same boat and we all want to help each other out. I love how modern the university is too, and the transport links to and from the university and city are fantastic and so convenient for students. There are also so many societies to get involved in (I highly recommend Fly FM, Trent TV or Platform Magazine if you want to get extra experience alongside your journalism degree) but there’s something for everyone at NTU!”

Have you completed any work placements and if so can you tell me a little bit about them – where you went and what you did?

“I’ve completed a variety of placements both before and during university. I’ve done placements for Global in Birmingham (Capital, Heart and Smooth) and I’ve had various shadowing opportunities at Heart Norwich, BBC Lincolnshire, BBC Derby, BBC Nottingham and Notts TV. During the summer of my second year, I was able to complete a placement at BBC Radio 2 on the Jeremy Vine Show. I loved contributing my ideas and helping with all elements of the show- it was a fantastic week. All of these placements have helped me secure paid work in the industry- I’m lucky enough to be freelancing for Capital, Heart, Smooth, BBC Radio Derby and Gem 106 during my final year of university.

How will your course and/or placement enhance your employability for your chosen career? What skills have you gained?

“The course has provided a springboard allowing me to build upon my skills and network of contacts. Everyone you meet in different media organisations teaches you something different; and it’s these skills that you can add to your own skillset to make you a better journalist and presenter. It’s so important to network and just talk to people, they have been in your position and will most likely want to help you. You’ve got to be like a sponge, soak up as much information and knowledge as you can. These placements have taught me so many skills to prepare me for life after university, but also that you can be the best at what you do, however willingness to learn, determination and being a nice person is what gets you places!”

What has been your greatest achievement at NTU so far?

“Probably becoming Deputy Station Manager of Fly FM (Nottingham Trent University’s Student Radio Station) at the start of my second year of university. I didn’t know whether my student radio colleagues would vote for me when I applied at the end of my first year and I was so shocked but delighted to find out that they actually believe I have the ability to co-run the station. It’s a huge honour; so many people who are now working in the industry have been in this role so I hope I can do my peers and ex fly alumni proud!”

What opportunities have you had during your first year of University?  

“As soon as I turned 18 I began interning on the Capital East Midlands Breakfast Show and I now intern on the Drive Show with Tom and Claire, who are CBJ alumni, and they’ve been massively supportive. It was always my aim to get a job in the media before I turned 20; I am now a Freelance Broadcast Journalist for Global as well which is just amazing as I'm only just starting second year! I’m also incredibly proud that I won Silver for Best Entertainment Show and Bronze for Best Female Presenter at the Community Radio Awards 2018 for my efforts at Erewash Sound in Derbyshire where I first started doing radio at 17.”

What are your plans for the future?

“Just to keep working hard! The absolute dream would be to secure a presenting role on a national radio station or TV channel, but for now I know that I’ve got to keep getting as much advice and experience as possible to get to where I want to be. You have to start at the bottom, be willing to do everything and work your way up- I’ve got a long way to go yet!”