Emily Smith

Why did you choose City?

I chose City because it was the best course I found for Magazine Journalism. It was also in London where I was desperate to move and explore.

I also really like the location of the campus and knew it would be a place I would happily travel to, it was also important for me to not be too far out of central London. To keep it simple, it was the best course in the country for what I wanted to study.

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

My weeks have changed drastically each term and even throughout terms.

Usually, I would have a later class on a Monday so would spend my morning setting myself up for the day and planning what I needed to do that week. Tuesday would be busier, with Copy Clinic (A class where we would peer assess each other's articles that we submitted the Friday prior).

Wednesdays we would have our Magazine Storytelling classes where we learnt each week how to write, pitch and edit.

Indesign classes were all we had on Thursdays meaning I could get some last-minute work done on my articles that were due weekly for Friday afternoons. Friday's have been manic with classes from 10am to 4pm and the weekly deadline.

Throughout the week I would try balance the huge workload with having a couple of fun plans with friends both from uni and not. It's super important to spend social time not talking about your studies too! So yes, lots of lovely meals, drinks and fun activities scattered amongst coursework.

What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?

My favourite module so far has being my Arts and Culture specialism. Each week we've had amazing speakers come in who are at the top of their game within the journalism industry. With most of them being women it's been really encouraging to see these success stories every week. Kat Lister, the specialism leader, has not wasted time in teaching us very important skills for us to take with us and put into practice when we begin our careers.

What opportunities and experiences has City offered you so far?

There's been endless amounts of opportunities. Each week we've had the chance to chat with and question some of the titans of the journalism industry. Simply being around these people has been a huge honour for us all and has given us the opportunity to network and gain insider perspective of what we can expect in our experiences. There's been endless events, with talks from famous journalists and big-time politicians (With free wine!!!).

What are your career plans and how has City prepared you for them?

I would really like to now pursue my career as a digital journalist and social media manager. I wouldn't have a clue how to even do this before doing my masters at City.

Being at City has given me the access to opportunities that i wouldn't have otherwise. Because of this course, I have been able to apply and get accepted for a paid digital internship at Woman & Home. This is a huge achievement and will massively push me forward in my career.

What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?

I would say just do it. It's incredibly hard and intense but it's a 100% worth it. The opportunities, the people and the challenge makes it such a rewarding time.

I definitely would stress the difficulty of a masters, it's a lot more work than i expected but I couldn't feel prouder that I have achieved this degree.