Eve
Smallman

What made you choose to study at NTU?  

“I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer, and I’ve been doing journalism experience since I was sixteen. I decided I wanted to pursue it somewhere where I’d learn a lot but also somewhere I’d be happy living for three years. The Centre for Broadcasting & Journalism newsroom and facilities were the best out of all the ones I saw. Nottingham itself was also such a beautiful city, and I felt comfortable walking around it and the campus straight away.”

What did you enjoy most about your course?

“The practical elements of the course really helped me get to grips with what journalism is like in real life. A lot of the things I’ve done on practical days I’ve also done on work experience. I’m also learning shorthand at the moment, which I’ve been aching to learn since I started! It’s hard work, but it is definitely a useful skill to have. “

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?

“They have all been helpful and supportive in what I do outside the course and inside the course. The course staff are experienced journalists and it does show when they are teaching and giving feedback. The technical staff also are brilliant at helping with the many techie issues I’ve encountered!”

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

“The newsroom is fantastic, as it gives you a real buzz when everyone is working together and trying to work to a deadline. The fact we can borrow out kit like cameras is also really handy. The technicians are always updating them so they’re up to industry standard.”

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

“Nottingham is such a vibrant, creative city. There’s so many amazing independent cafes and shops that have their own individual stories. I often walk around and end up finding somewhere really cool and interesting that I’ve not seen before. There’s also always something going on, whether there’s music playing, street artists posing, or even a big festival in Old Market Square!”

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

“The course itself gives you all the tools you need to become a successful journalist in the real world. Practical elements like news days, and even non-practical ones like media law, all contribute to that. The university and the SU provide loads of opportunities that help enrich your university experience. Being the Editor-in-Chief of Platform has added to my experience massively.”

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?

“Over the summer I interned at Nottingham magazine LeftLion. I worked on their print magazine, online website, as well as being a key contributor on their Welcome to Nottingham guide. I got to interview Selasi from Bake Off for that, which was brilliant. They’ve been really amazing in giving me feedback and support. I also do music reviews for the Nottingham Post, and a music interview I did for them got published in seven papers across the region.”

Please tell us all about your award win at the Student Publication Awards.          

“I’m the Editor-in-Chief of Platform Magazine, which is the NTSU magazine. Before I took on the role, the publication was dying and it had been out of print for two years. I won the Outstanding Commitment award at the national Student Publication Awards for my work in bringing it back to life. Now we have over 80 members, have had four print editions, and we are still growing. The win was such an amazing feeling – I was happy crying all the way up to the stage! Work experience employers do always pick up on it, as it shows that I’m hard-working and driven.”