Oliver studied for a master's degree in Broadcast Journalism at City, University of London, and graduated in 2017.
Why did you choose to study at City, University of London?
I have been wanted to study at City since I was 15. When I was 16 I went to a couple of open days and I knew immediately that it was the best and most reputable university in the UK for Journalism. City is also well located in London, which enabled easy access to many local stories.
What was your favourite module and why?
Radio and TV journalism was my favourite module as it allowed for many opportunities to report live from different locations. If I could choose a second favourite module, it would be Sports Journalism because I learnt to write articles very quickly which is an essential skill in the industry.
What was a highlight of your course so far?
Getting the chance to go abroad to Australia was definitely a highlight of the course.
What did you gain from completing a year abroad?
I had the chance to visit a fantastic country and meet many great people, all while living within a completely different lifestyle to the UK. In December of my year abroad, I started a months internship in Melbourne with the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). This opportunity led to another 7 months of working for them, and when I left I felt fully integrated into the country - I had many friends, I had a job, and access to many recreational activities.
Why did you go and how did you find the process of arranging it?
I only applied an hour before the deadline as I was thinking about getting an internship in London. The internship in Australia however allowed me to take a break from London and explore a different country. The process was quite complicated and I only received the visa a week before I left, so things were tight!
What was your biggest challenge whilst studying at City?
I found it challenging to work alongside studying.
If you could give one piece of advice to a prospective Broadcast Journalism student, what would it be?
Take every opportunity you get, as it will improve your skills as a journalist. Go to all the events in the department and at the University, and go to the extra classes. Also challenge yourself, don’t just write a story because it is easy.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I plan to stay a Broadcast Journalist and am thinking about possibly moving to Australia.
How did you hear about your first job since graduating?
I did an internship with Leading Britain's Conversation (LBC) in November. I made a point of making sure I worked very hard. On the 5th day of the internship, I talked to the head of news operations and I asked him what the next step was. He asked if I would be interested in presenting on their sister station called LBC London news, and of course I said yes!
How are you finding the job so far?
Really great, it's what I have wanted to do since I was 5 years old. I used to pretend to present the kids news when I was younger. In my current role, I occasionally get to work as a reporter, whereby I can go and find the story myself. I have had the chance to report on the Dutch elections from Amsterdam in March - which was very fun, and I also reported on the Manchester bombing, and reported live during the London Bridge terror attack. Every day is different, sometimes I even get to help out as a producer.
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