UNIT 11: PROGRESSION
This section reflects on my progress throughout the course, outlines my next steps, and helps me identify what I enjoy and what I want to pursue as I move forward into the industry that interests me most.
Embedded Files
Skills For your CV
When applying for jobs or apprenticeships or University, often a CV, letter or show reel is the first contact that you will have with a potential employer. It is your opportunity to highlight your skills and personality. Through this unit, you will have the opportunity to create a website that will showcase an engaging CV, examples of the best work you have produced on the course and various other assets that will attract potential employers and/or uni admissions and help you stand out with your application for the specific job or course.
As well as acquiring specialist knowledge of creative writing, you'll have developed effective written and oral communication skills. Other strengths you can evidence include:
Creative thinking and problem solving - these skills are useful for many jobs and you'll have gained them from developing characters and storylines, organising a radio drama recording and technical issues with software amongst other things
Independent working - having to be self-motivated as a writer means you can effectively determine and direct your own workload
Time management and organisation - learning to structure your time effectively as a writer means you can be highly organised
A good understanding of information technology
Planning and researching written work - you'll be adept at this from turning ideas into well-rounded stories
Presentation skills
Editorial and proofreading skills - key skills gained from producing accurately written content
Future Career Action Plans
Where do I see myself in 5/10/15 years and how do I plan to get there?
In the future, I see myself working in a big city, pursuing a career in Journalism, Publishing or Public Relations. I see myself earning a good salary, and living in a luxury home. I plan to accomplish this by getting a good grade in my final year of college (Aiming for a Distinction) and the going off to study Journalism at University. I plan to get high grades in Uni, and come out with a degree that will support me in getting the jobs that I want and securing good connections that will further push my career in a positive direction.
List the skills that I think I need to get there and who has them on their CV.
The skills that I think I need in order to achieve my career goals, are:
-Strong writing and editing capabilities and an ability to craft clear and engaging content, alongside editing for accuracy and style.
-Communication skills to effectively convey messages and engage with a diverse audience
-Critical thinking skills: The ability to analyse information, identify trends and make informed decisions
-Creativity; The ability to develop innovative campaigns and story ideas that capture attention
-Attention to detail in ensuring accuracy and consistency in messaging and reporting
-Time management and the capability to juggle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines efficiently
The people that have these skills in their CV include Writers, Journalists, PR Managers, Media Organisers, and Freelancers and Consultants.
Make a plan of how I will achieve my goals and the skills needed.
(Below I have created a visual representation for this answer)
Work Experience Opportunities
List all of the work experience or work-related opportunities you have been involved in while being in college. Provide images images, feedback from employers and any examples from the work you have done. Add what you would like to do as well.
Thanet News
As part of our work experience In the first year of this course, a few of my classmates and I were given the chance to work with Kathy Bailes, who runs Thanet News. Below are some screen grabs from the Thanet news website of articles that I wrote, alongside links to the articles.
Feedback:
"Feedback from Kathy at Thant News: Polly Foster
Polly expressed an interest in community fundraising and so worked on an article about Thanet Wanderers SEND programme.
She came up with a good list of questions, made sure to ask for photos and did some research around the scheme. The result was a nice Q&A feature. A second charity show piece was also produced.
Polly has a clear and concise way of writing with a good grasp of structure."
This work experience opportunity gave me an important insight into the professional newswriting industry and helped me understand the importance of deadlines and professional journalism.
The Canterbury Post
During my first year of this course, the second year student created an online magazine for Canterbury College. This year, my class have since taken over this project and renamed it to 'CantPost'.
This is the first article I wrote for the Canterbury College Post magazine. It is a feature article for the sport section, which revolves around the ongoing issue of sexism in women's sport, and how recent events have only increased this issue.
You can find a link to this article below:
🔗 https://30065337.wixsite.com/the-canterbury-post
I enjoyed writing this article and it inspired me to keep this project going, as it could be beneficial for future students and a good introduction to Journalism.
CantPost
CantPost is a project that a few of my classmates and I started this year, after taking over from the students the year before us. It is an online magazine that features local news, literary work from students and a source of information for Canterbury College students.
Being given the role of Social Media Manager for CantPost this year has been a great way for me to explore and improve my marketing and design skills, which is something that I enjoyed doing last year, and gave me an insight into professionally working on a project and completing work within deadlines.
Alongside helping out with editing and writing articles for CantPost, I am also the Social Media Manager and Marketer. Below I have included some examples of my social media posts and promotional designs.
The Canterbury Festival
On Saturday the 2nd of November, me and two of my classmates were given the opportunity to interview the silent comedian 'Tape Face' and watch one of his shows at the Great Hall at Kent College, as he was a part of this years Canterbury Festival line-up. We then turned this interview into a podcast review, which then featured
(From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_Festival )
"The Canterbury Festival is Kent's international festival of the arts. It takes place in Canterbury and surrounding towns and villages (including Faversham, Whitstable and Margate) each October/November and includes performances of a variety of types of music, art, comedy, circus, theatre, walks, talks and a Science strand. It has featured performances by Sir Willard White, Michael Nyman, Hugh Masekela, Van Morrison, Bryn Terfel, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Tom Allen, Michael Mcintyre and Ned Sherrin. Venues include Canterbury Cathedral, the Great Hall at Kent College, the Malthouse Theatre at The King's School, Westgate Hall and At Gregory's Centre for Music at Canterbury Christ Church University."
Me and my two peers (Becks and Ella) looked on The Canterbury Festival website and decided that we wanted to see The Tape Face Show, and interview the man behind the performance. We chose this performance as it was something that immediately caught our interest and we were intrigued by the concept of silent comedy.
🔗 Interview recording link
After corresponding with The Canterbury Festival representatives, we were able to get the opportunity to interview tape face before the show. This was a great experience as it allowed us to not only watch the performance, but also gain insight into the man behind 'Tape Face' which would ultimately help us with our work experience project. We then turned this interview into a podcast-style report.
⬇️ Image of us interviewing Tape Face
Future Work Experience
In the future, I would like to pursue a range of work experience opportunities. An example of this is getting the chance to work with a professional newspaper again, as it would further enhance my journalism and newswriting skills, whilst also giving me an insight into the professional industry of journalism. I would also be interested in getting to work in the area of broadcast Journalism, as it is something that I have never explored before and I would like to identify the differences between Broadcast and News writing and decide which one I prefer. This would help me to expand my range of skills for my CV and also help me when deciding my future career/university choice.
Promotional Website/CV
Create an engaging website that promotes your skills and showcases your work:
Research Existing Websites:
In order to grasp the idea of what I need to create an effective promotional website, I did some research into what it should look like and include. I began by looking at the example websites on the 'Unit 11' Powerpoint, in which I have linked below.
From analysing these websites, I found that each one contained a range of important attributes, such as:
Clean and professional design
Compelling content and a professional summary to portray key skills
Work showcased effectively, using high quality images and links
Good description of relevant work experience and opportunities.
Easy navigation with with a menu or links to different sections
Concise but informative 'About Me' section
Contact information accessibility
Website Examples:
↗️ Examples from Pinterest and Google
My Promotional Website
This is my first attempt at creating a promotional website for myself. In order to create my website, I used a template in Canva which had a clean and simple visual design, whilst displaying a range of relevant information. You can click on the PDF below and view the website.
Untitled design.pdf⬅️
Having a promotional website or CV is crucial for enhancing your online presence and professional branding. It allows you to showcase your skills, work samples, and achievements, providing control over your narrative. A well-designed site increases searchability, facilitates networking, and presents a polished image to potential employers or clients. Additionally, it can be easily updated to reflect your evolving career, making it a versatile tool for professional growth and opportunities.
CV's and More
After having a go at creating a promotional website, I decided to create a professional CV, as it is a simpler format and is easier to send to employers due to it being limited to a few pages to display my skills. The slide show below displays my progress in creating CV's, as well as potential jobs I could apply for:
Previous CV (1).pdf⬅️ Click on this PDF slide show to look at the progress of curating my CV's, and creating CV's that are job-specific.
Creating this slideshow helped me to recognise the important aspects of a CV, and how I could improve mine in order to come across as professional, demonstrate my skills and overall attract future employers. I also began to recognise job-specific CV's and how I can create them effectively,
Categories of Journalism Research
As a part of my college EEP hours, I researched the different categories of Journalism in order to distinguish the specific area I might want to pursue as a career in my future. I have attached my research on this page as I think it also relates to my future progression and career as a whole.
After researching different types, I was curious as to why there was so many different kinds of Journalism and why it was important to find out what I might be most interested in for a future career. I used the website (uk.indeed.com) in order to conduct some additional research.
Why is understanding different types of Journalism Important?
Journalists are media professionals who collect information and report on important events or distribute feature stories and commentary. Understanding some types of journalism has many benefits, including:
Helps you plan your career
Understanding what career options you have while pursuing a degree in journalism can help you prepare a better career plan. For example, if your dream is to become a broadcast journalist, you might consider improving different skills than someone who's interested in working in print. Choosing your desired specialisation as early as possible, for instance, in the first year of your undergraduate programme, gives you more time to develop a skill set that employers may find impressive when you graduate.
Makes Job Search Easier
When you decide to pursue a particular specialisation as a journalist, you may look for job offers that best match your specific requirements. For example, if you're pursuing a career as a broadcast journalist, your primary focus can be on television channels and radio stations. You'd also know to avoid remote job opportunities, which are best suited for columnists or digital journalists.
Allows you to impress an employer
Employers value ambitious and self-aware candidates who have a clear vision of their future. This is because this allows employers to understand if the candidates' career plans align with the company's growth plans. Understanding different types of specialisations in journalism gives you a better idea of which skills your potential employer might be looking for in an ideal candidate. To position yourself as the most qualified applicant, consider highlighting those skills in your application and discussing them with a hiring manager in your job interview.
After I had begun to understand the importance of knowing the area of Journalism you want to specialise in, I started to think about what would interest me most as a future Journalist. I did this by taking a quiz (From https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/quiz-what-kind-of-journalist-would-you-be/) that asked a range of personality-based questions that helped determine which area of Journalism would be best suited for you. I also took another Journalist quiz (From https://www.interhacktives.com/2019/03/13/journalist-quiz/), as I wanted to get multiple perspectives from different sources. I have attached both quiz results below. ⬇️
After completing these quizzes, I found that I was most intruiged by the area of news Journalism, as it is something we have explored in class and I found it very interesting and enjoyable to write. To find out more I decided to focus my research on News Journalism.
What is a News Journalist?
(From https://learn.org/articles/What_is_a_News_Journalist.html)
Famous News Journalists
(From https://www.onthisday.com/people/journalists)
Findings and Conclusion
Findings from Research on Journalism Specializations and Career Paths:
Through my research, I have gained a deeper understanding of the different categories within journalism and the importance of choosing a specialization that aligns with both personal interests and career goals. Based on information from various sources, including the NCT website and additional research from uk.indeed.com, the key findings are as follows:
1. Categories of Journalism:
Journalism is a broad field with various specializations, each offering unique opportunities and skills. The major types of journalism include:
Fashion Journalism: Focuses on the fashion industry, trends, and events.
Sports Journalism: Covers sporting events, athletes, and related news.
Podcasting: Involves creating and distributing audio content.
Radio Journalism: Focuses on news and stories delivered via radio.
Data Journalism: Involves analyzing and reporting on data to uncover trends and insights.
Investigative Journalism: Digs deep into stories to expose hidden truths or injustices.
Broadcast Journalism: Covers news for television and radio.
Digital Journalism: Focuses on online reporting, including blogs, video content, and social media.
Each type of journalism requires distinct skills, and it is important to understand what appeals to you to tailor your studies and career path.
2. The Importance of Understanding Specializations:
Career Planning: Knowing the different types of journalism helps you tailor your education and develop relevant skills for your desired field. For example, a broadcast journalist may focus on improving video and presentation skills, while a data journalist would hone analytical abilities.
Easier Job Search: Once you decide on a specialization, finding jobs becomes more straightforward. You’ll know which industries or media outlets to target, whether they are newspapers, online platforms, or television channels.
Impressing Employers: Employers value candidates who are clear about their career goals. By understanding different specializations, you can align your skills with what employers are looking for and present yourself as a more qualified candidate.
3. Quizzes and Personal Insights:
After taking two different journalist quizzes (from PBS and Interhacktives), I discovered that my personality aligns with both social media and news journalism. However, while social media journalism emphasizes real-time reporting and audience interaction, news journalism is more structured, focusing on thorough research, accuracy, and storytelling. The quizzes helped me gain insight into my strengths and preferences, but ultimately, I found news journalism to be the most appealing based on my interests and enjoyment in class discussions and writing exercises.
4. Focus on News Journalism:
News journalism, which involves reporting on local, national, and international events, is an area that particularly interests me. This field requires strong communication skills, research abilities, and a solid understanding of current affairs. News journalists can work for newspapers, online platforms, or broadcast outlets, and may work on a freelance basis or as part of a larger media institution.
Key Skills for News Journalists: Effective written and verbal communication, research skills, the ability to conduct interviews, and proficiency in multimedia tools like photography and video production are essential for success in news journalism.
Famous News Journalists: Notable figures in news journalism, such as investigative journalists or anchors, demonstrate how influential this field can be in shaping public opinion and influencing societal change.
In conclusion, my research has shown me the wide range of options within journalism and the importance of selecting a specialization that aligns with my interests and skills. Based on my findings, I am particularly interested in pursuing a career in news journalism, as it offers opportunities for in-depth reporting and impactful storytelling.
16 Personalities Quiz
16personalities is a personality test analyzing the personal traits of the test-taker and putting those on a scale from 0 to 100. The corner values represent the very opposite sides of the spectrum for the given trait. The corner values represent the very opposite sides of the spectrum for the given trait. I was first introduced to this quiz during a session with our other course tutor, Celia, in which we took this test in order to understand our target demographic's personality type. I thought that including this in my Unit 11 page would also be beneficial, as it told me a lot about my personality and specifically about my career path and creative thinking processes. Below I have included my results:
"As an ENTP (Debater), you are a vibrant intellectual force, always ready to challenge ideas and push boundaries. Your quick wit and audacious spirit make you a natural provocateur, thriving on the mental gymnastics of a good argument. You see the world as a playground of possibilities, where every conversation is an opportunity to explore new concepts and challenge the status quo.
Your innovative mind is constantly buzzing with ideas, making connections that others might miss. You have an uncanny ability to see potential where others see problems, approaching challenges with enthusiasm and creativity. This makes you an invaluable asset in brainstorming sessions and think tanks, where your out-of-the-box thinking can lead to groundbreaking solutions."
⬆️ The career path section in this quiz is something I found particularly relevant and interesting.
"In your professional life, you thrive in dynamic environments that challenge your intellect and provide ample opportunities for innovation. Your natural entrepreneurial spirit makes you well-suited for roles that involve strategic planning, problem-solving, and generating new ideas. You’re at your best when tackling complex challenges that require creative solutions, making you an asset in fields like consulting, technology, or research and development.
However, you may find yourself chafing under rigid hierarchies or overly structured work environments. Your independent nature and love for debate can sometimes put you at odds with traditional authority figures or established systems. Finding a career path that allows you to exercise your creativity and leadership skills while providing the flexibility you crave is crucial for your long-term job satisfaction. Consider roles that let you innovate, such as entrepreneurship, strategic consulting, or creative direction, where your ability to see the big picture and generate novel solutions is highly valued."
How the recommended careers for ENTP's compare to my chosen career options/aspirations:
( From https://www.truity.com/blog/personality-type/entp/careers )
"The ideal work environment for an ENTP is intellectually challenging without being rigid, with creative and intelligent coworkers. The ideal job for an ENTP allows them to put their creativity to work developing innovative ideas, while allowing them to delegate responsiblity for the tedious details of implementation to others."
"Top careers for ENTP's in the arts, entertainment and media category include: Graphic Designer, Editor, Photographer, Public Relations Specialist, Reporter, Technical writer.
After getting my results and conducting some extra research, I found that the ideal careers for my personality type align with careers that I am interested in. This only spurred on my motivation to pursue my dream careers, as I would statistically excel at these jobs according to these personality websites.
UCAS
"UCAS is an organisation whose main role is to manage applications to undergraduate courses at UK universities. UCAS stands for the University and Colleges Admissions Service, and was formed in 1993. It provides a central service between applicants and universities. All applications for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK must be submitted via UCAS, who in turn, pass them on to your selected institutions."
I began my applying process by signing up to UCAS, entering my College name and buzzword, then began filling out my personal information. My next step was to start looking at Universities and courses and analysing the breakdowns of modules, lectures and seminars. This helped me understand what kind of course and location would be the best fit for me.
↗️ Completing and filling out my personal information, which includes GCSE results, funding and contact details.
↗️ Using the 'Subject Guide' section on the UCAS website in order to pinpoint the best universities for my desired area of study, and ranges of similar subjects/courses.
↗️ The UCAS Hub provides you with all the tools and information they need – in one place. It is great for exploring subjects, considering apprenticeships, shortlisting your final five, and writing a good personal statement.
Choosing the right University
Once you have an idea what subject you would like to take at the next level of your study (university degree), you need to start looking at which universities are offering it. The UCAS search engine will list all universities across the country that offer the subject of your interest.
Once I had looked on UCAS and decided on some possible options that offer the courses of my choice, I used 'The Uni Guide' website to find and compare these courses and check their ratings.
🔗 https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/
Below I have attatched some screen grabs of my findings for some of the Universities I am interested in:
University of East Anglia: ↙️
Oxford Brookes University: ↙️
What I gathered from researching these statistics from 'The Uni Guide', is that both Universities have good ratings, not only from the university itself, but from real life students, which is important to me as these are my top choices so far. I did notice that Oxford Brookes has a wider range of high grades at the end of the course, while UEA doesn't, though at the same time UEA had more positive student feedback. This has impacted my thoughts and decisios when considering Uni's, as enjoying my time on campus and while learning is something that I hold to a high importance.
Above is a list I have made of different Universities that I have been considering, along with important information about them, and areas that interest me.
University Open Days
In this section I have talked about the University open days that I have visited, including my thoughts and images. As I have decided that my next step in my education is university, I deemed it very important to explore my options and visit some of my top uni choices in order to get an in-person view of the campus, students and teachers, as well as examining the different areas of study/courses.
Oxford Brookes University
On the 17th February 2023, I travelled up to Oxford Brookes University for an open day. I was interested in their Media, Publishing and Journalism Course, which is what I looked at, though I also had a tour around the Campus, toured around student accomodation and had a day out in the city of Oxford.
In the main hall, there was a subject and courses fair, in which you could find your desired course and talk to students and teachers about what it is like to study there, modules included in the course and ask any additional questions. I talked to three students (Photographed above) and asked them what kind of content they went over in each module. I also took this opportunity to interview them about feature writing for my first year Final Major Project.
I then attended a meeting/introduction about the 'Media, Journalism and Publishing' course, which was led by a range of student ambassadors and lecturers. They provided a more in-depth explanation of the course and what it revolved around, which was very insightful; I also found it great to meet the lecturers and other people who were interested in pursuing this course as it gave me a feel of what University would be like and if I would enjoy it.
I was given an Undergraduate Prospectus, which listed all of the study options at Oxford Brookes, and provided a range of useful information regarding finance and accomodation.
Overall, I found my visit to Oxford Brookes very beneficial, as it gave me an introduction to what University might be like, and the wide range of options that I have, which include locations, courses and areas of study. As it was my first open day, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I soon found out it was a very rewarding experience and allowed me to visualise what my life might be like if I pursued university/ a specififc course.
University of East Anglia
I booked my slot for the UEA open day on the 26th October, and went along with two of my classmates Ella and becks, who were also interested at looking at the university. Above is my confirmation email.
I attended a talk about the Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism course, which allowed me to talk to one of the course lecturers and current students. This was very insightful, as I gained greater insight into the modules taught and the student experience. Below I have included some key information that I acquired during this talk:
Stamp of quality: The course is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.
All of the lecturers still currently work in broadcasting
100% of their 2023 graduating cohort work in media, PR, or journalism.
Focus on practical skills and industry rather than theory
Small class sizes - maximum of 24 people in each class.
The course I was most interested in looking at was broadcast and multimedia Journalism. This course is slightly different to the other courses I looked at as it predominantly focuses on practical skills and industry rather than theory, and involves a range of work experience opportunities (Including paid work while still studying). This course is also accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC).
I also looked around the City of Norwich during this trip, as I wanted to get a feel for the place that I could potentially be living in for 3 years of my life. I found that I really liked the general vibe of Norwich, and espescially liked where the campus was located as it was slightly secluded, but also only a bus journey away from the city centre.
One of the things that intruiged me most about this course is the fact that all of the lectures are held in an official Broadcast center that is owned by the university itself. We were given a tour of this area, which included a range of recording studios, an official live TV room in which the students report from and lecture halls and breakout rooms. I found this very exciting as it would give me an insight into the industry whilst still studying.
Personal Statement
''A personal statement is a chance to get noticed for the unique talents and experiences you have. It’s an important part of the application process as it’s an opportunity to talk about yourself and your passions, outside of your grades.''
As a class, we went through the steps of what a personal statement is for, the importance of creating a captivating statement, and the steps we need to follow. We were given a resource from Canterbury ChristChurch University that detailed how one could write an effective personal statement.
After reading through this guide, I felt like I had grasped the idea of what a personal statement actually is, as well as the things I should and shouldn't include if I wanted it to sound professional whilst also giving a university a glimpse into my personality, accomplishments, skills and passions. Below I have included some notes that I took whilst reading the resource and key information that I found helpful and important.
DO:
Brainstorm and write several drafts
Use excellent English and grammar to come across as professional
Show your drafts to people who know you and get feedback
Create a sensible and professional email address
Research the course you want to do for hints and tips
Link everything to your chosen subject
Be enthusiastic
DON'T:
make jokes or try to be funny when it is not needed
Sound arrogant or pretentious to impress people
lie or embellish the truth
Repeat things already on your UCAS form
Include boring phrases, quotes or hobbies
State the obvious for your age
Copy anything word for word
Within this resource, there is also an exercise that you can complete in order to gather information that you think might be relevant. I found that filling in these boxes helped me to brainstorm and understand what kind of information I needed to include in my own personal statement. Below I have included screen grabs of my responses.
Personal statement First Draft
After we were given a talk about personal statements and provided with a resource to help us create one, our course tutor gave us a deadline for a first draft of our own personal statement - below is my first draft:
There is nothing that excites me more in life than a good story. Whether it is relaying the affairs of local communities or uncovering the intricacies of global issues, my passion for media and journalism is epitomised by the art of curiosity and the ability to inform the public of current affairs through a medium that has fueled my creative side since I was young. Sky correspondent Alex Crawford once said, “Reporters have different DNA, they are programmed to be curious: to go where no one will go, to ask questions no one else will ask, to give a voice to those no one else will listen to.” For me, this quote embodies the essence of journalism and represents the sole reason I want to study this course.
Throughout my academic journey, I have been particularly drawn to journalism, as it was a prevalent topic we explored in my course at college. This made me eager to write for my college’s newspaper, in which I became editor of in my second year, while also handling the role of social media manager. During this time, I was able to cover a range of topics from college events to opinions on national news and politics. This particular leadership role has prepared me for the demands of a journalism degree, as I can envision utilising such skills of adaptability, communication, and passion for creating a compelling story in my future studies. Additionally, an experience that helped me to develop my journalism skills was interviewing an artist from ‘The Canterbury Festival’, and transforming that report into a podcast. This was a pivotal experience for me as it not only introduced me to the dynamic field of broadcast journalism but also improved my skills in audio production, interviewing, and the importance of storytelling. This project allowed me to gain an insight into the art of conveying stories through voice, which is an area that particularly sparked my interest and became something that I found both impactful and engaging.
My deep interest in journalism also encouraged me to spend a lot of time reading and researching outside of our given curriculum, in order to further explore the implications that modern-day media and journalism have on today’s society. One of the books that has deeply inspired me is Moranthology by Caitlin Moran - This book opened my eyes to how humour can help tackle deeper societal issues, as Moran manages to dispense cutting social observation over the top of a light wit, which is something that motivates me to write journalism that contains both heart and head - something that I would like to emulate myself whilst studying journalism.
Additionally, one aspect that has stood out to me in my research is the evolution of media, particularly how the rapid changes in how news is consumed and shared can impact aspiring journalists and influence their commitment to pursuing a career in journalism and their studies. Although I am aware that there are risks when it comes to stability in the journalism job market, I am determined to embrace these challenges. I believe that by staying adaptable, continuously developing my skills, and staying committed to the principles of truth and integrity in journalism, I can contribute meaningfully to the field and navigate its evolving landscape with confidence.
While aware of how demanding and often unpredictable a career in journalism could be, the idea of spending the next few years studying something I am passionate about in the hope of turning it into an accomplished career is one that I eagerly look forward to. I think my future lies in an area where I can tell the stories of others, explore my own curiosity about the world, and through that help to shape informed public discourse. What really excites me is the dynamic nature of journalism, and I would like to improve the skills that will help me become successful in such a fast-changing field. With this strong foundation in both storytelling and critical thinking, I am confident I can rise to any challenge ahead, making a substantial difference in the media industry.
Kent University Feedback
On the 8th of November, a number of ambassadors from The University of Kent visited our college media department in order to review students' personal statements and talk about higher education options. I found that speaking to these experts allowed me to gain insight into my university application and get a second opinion/proofread on the first draft of my personal statement. Below are some notes that I took while recieving feedback:
Personal statement is over the character count - must be 4000 characters (Remove around 50 characters)
Introduction is efficient, although must remove quote - quotes are often overused and displays unorigonality: It shows that you are relying on other people's words rather than your own.
Reference to books you have read is good, though I could go into greater depth about how reading this book has affected me.
Include more work experience (Could include writing for Thanet News and how this has impacted me)
Conclusion paragraph needs condensing, as it contains repitition and can be conveyed through less words.
Remove certain 'flowery' language such as 'eagerly' (Too elaborate for a personal statement)
Feedback from Tutor
My course tutor also read through my personal statement fist draft, and made some notes - in which I have displayed in the images below.
⬅️ This is the part of my personal statement that my tutor felt could use the most improvement, and advised me to remove words such as 'particularly', de-clutter my text and mention more work experience that I have partook in throughout my college course in order to really sell myself.
Completed Personal Statement
There is nothing that excites me more in life than a good story. Whether it is relaying the affairs of local communities, or uncovering the intricacies of global issues, my passion for media and journalism is epitomised by the art of curiosity and the ability to inform the public about current affairs through a medium which has fueled my creative side since I was young - writing. Sky reporter Alex Crawford once said, "Reporters have different DNA, they are programmed to be curious: to go where no one will go, to give a voice to those no one else will listen to." For me, this quote embodies the essence of journalism and represents the reason I want to study this course. During my college journey, I have been particularly drawn to the journalism aspect of my course. This inspired me to write for my college newspaper, where I became editor in my second year, while also tackling the role of social media manager. During this time, I was given the chance to cover a range of topics - from college events to opinions on national news and politics. This particular leadership role has prepared me for many of the demands of a journalism degree, as I can envision utilising such skills as adaptability, communication, and passion for creating a compelling story in my future studies. Two experiences that have really helped me to develop my journalism skills were interviewing a renowned performance artist from 'The Canterbury Festival', and transforming that report into a podcast, and crafting news stories for local newspaper, Thanet News. These were pivotal experiences for me as they not only introduced me to the dynamic field of professional journalism, but also improved my confidence and skills in reporting, audio production, interviewing, and the importance of engaging storytelling. I also gained a deeper insight into the art of conveying stories through voice, which is an area that has particularly piqued my interest and has become something that I find both impactful and engaging. My deepening interest in journalism has also encouraged me to spend a lot of time reading and researching outside of our given college curriculum, to further explore the implications of modern-day media and journalism within today's society. One of the books that has inspired me is Moranthology by Caitlin Moran - this book has opened my eyes on how humour can help tackle deeper societal issues, as Moran manages to combine cutting social observation with wit, which is something that motivates me to create journalism containing both heart and head - something that I would like to emulate myself whilst studying journalism. One aspect that has stood out to me in my research, is the evolution of media- particularly how the rapid changes in how news is consumed and shared can impact aspiring journalists and influence their commitment to pursuing a career. Now, more than ever, values based journalism is a vital tool across the globe and although I am aware that there are risks when it comes to stability in the world of journalism, I am determined to embrace these challenges. I believe that by staying adaptable, continuously developing my skills, and staying committed to the principles of truth and integrity in journalism, I can contribute meaningfully to the field and navigate its evolving landscape with confidence. The idea of spending the next few years studying something I am passionate about, in the hope of turning it into an accomplished career, is very appealing. I believe my future lies in telling the stories of others, exploring my own curiosity about the world and, through that, helping shape informed public discourse. What really excites me is the dynamic nature of journalism, and I would love to improve the skills that will help me become successful in such a dynamic field. With this strong foundation in both storytelling and critical thinking, I am confident I can rise to any challenge ahead and I hope to forge a successful career in the media industry.
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