Isabelle
Barker

"A great part of the course is that you have to complete three weeks of work experience in your second year. This may seem daunting but my work placements have taught me so much and have massively contributed to me landing my graduate job! For two weeks I worked at the Sussex Express (my local paper). I was writing articles for online and print as part of a team in a busy news room environment. I made sure I was reliable, professional and always had a smile on my face and the placement went so well that I was asked to come back one day a week during summer. Placements are a great opportunity to build contacts in the industry and during my time at the Sussex Express I got to know the sports editor. I’ve always been interested in sports journalism and through building that contact I was able to help out at big events, like the Nature Valley Tennis Tournament where I interviewed Jo Konta and Andy Murray! If I hadn’t gotten out my comfort zone and made the most of my work placements, I wouldn’t be where I am now."

"The Sun advertised a vacancy for a sports reporting scholarship which I applied for following a handful of rejections from other papers. I sent my CV, cover letter and an example of my work. I made sure my CV was neat, professional and concise, my cover letter expressed my passion for the role and the newspaper, and I used a piece of work I was really proud of. I was interviewed by the sports editor of The Sun and the sports editor of The Times which was terrifying but such a valuable experience. I gave the interview my all, asked lots of questions and expressed my personality because I knew six other excellent applicants were being interviewed after me! I am so proud to have received the scholarship. In my first week I featured on Talk Sport to chat about the scholarship and I’m still pinching myself now when I see my name in the byline."

"I know starting at university can be really scary, meeting new friends, leaving home and living in a new city. But embrace each day, it may be intimidating at first but studying at NTU will be the best three years of your life and I could not recommend the course enough. CBJ will shape you into the best possible journalist and the tutors will gear you up for life in the working world. Make the most of the amazing teachers and facilities the course offers and have a positive mind set about each day!"