Lalah studied for a degree in Journalism at City, University of London and graduated in 2012.
What do you do now?
Currently I'm Senior Reporter for three B2B healthcare magazines - Nursing in Practice, Management in Practice and The Commissioning Review. Collectively they reach about 60,000 people online and in print - quite a chunk when you consider it's just GPs and nurses! I started as Reporter in January 2013, after graduating in 2012. I'm the sole reporter, which means writing stories from press releases to populate the website from day-to-day but also breaking exclusive news stories, reporting from events and writing interview features. Working with the biggest names in healthcare, I commission exclusive online content for the websites, from blogs and opinion pieces to "listicles". I've done a couple of paid freelance shifts at the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this year, and am on call for runner work with the BBC Radio Science Desk.
How has your time at City helped you?
Without City, University of London I don't think I would have had the versatility to jump right into this role following graduation. Being comfortable with last-minute assignments like writing a cover feature interview with one day's notice would have completely intimidated me. But now that I'm starting out in the industry, I see how essential the experience was, as was the emphasis on carrying out work experience and internships while studying. It bulks up the CV, which is a must if you're looking to start work after graduation. The degree is a fantastic overview, but work experience is what defines you personally as an entertainment writer, or science broadcaster, or web reporter.
More than that, the knowledge that sometimes you have to do a 5.30-9pm shift or a 3.30-11pm shift after a full day's work will certainly take longer to sink in without a tenacious City tutor prodding you with a biro. I'm glad I had one!
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