Sophie was a recipient of the Journalists’ Charity scholarship and studies MA Newspaper Journalism.
What scholarship did you receive?
I received the Journalists’ Charity scholarship, which was created this academic year. It supports one MA Newspaper Journalism student every year.
What undergraduate course did you study?
I studied English at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 2023.
What have you enjoyed most about your time at City?
There’s a lot packed into your time here, so it feels like you learn and make progress quickly, which is very satisfying. It’s been fascinating to hear from so many industry speakers too – pretty much every week, we have someone working in journalism come and talk to us in one of our modules, which is so useful and motivating.
I’ve really liked how practical it is. In my humanitarian reporting specialism, we learn about life abroad as a foreign or war correspondent; in media law, we learn about aspects of the law that will affect our everyday practice and decision-making as journalists; and for much of our coursework, we’re encouraged to find real stories, and speak to real people. You can see clearly how what you learn corresponds with what might be asked of you in the working world.
What are your interests outside of your course?
I love reading, going to the cinema and to plays/shows, and singing.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I’m not quite sure yet! I have a couple of different things I’m particularly interested in: arts and culture writing; education and family policy (my mum works in a school, so I’ve been exposed to the education system’s rights and wrongs all my life!); and the kinds of stories my humanitarian reporting module covers (climate, migration, and humanitarian crises). Working for a national publication at home or abroad within one of those areas of interest is a real dream for me.
What would be your top tip for our applicants?
It’s a somewhat cliched line when it comes to writing, but it rings true: show, don’t tell. Show the people reading your application and interviewing you that you love journalism and are committed to it. In order to do this, try to get some experience if you can – student journalism is a great place to start.
But also, it’s OK if you don’t have too much experience yet! There are journalistic skills that can be learnt/shown through other activities – has your customer service job helped you understand what makes people tick, which might make you a good journalistic interviewer? Perhaps you’ve done other kinds of writing or content creation? Maybe you have a love of reading sports journalism, or listening to a particular podcast? You’d be surprised by how many journalistic skills you’re already practising, in not-so-obviously journalistic activities.
What did you have to do to apply for this scholarship?
The basic criteria I had to meet where that I had to hold a confirmed offer to study on the Newspaper Journalism MA for the 2023/24 academic year; carry home fee status; and demonstrate personal financial need.
I then had to write a statement outlining my financial situation, and a 500-word essay on the role of journalism in contemporary society. The latter was a very interesting task – it made me think deeply about what I really thought about the question at hand, and prompted me to take an academic approach to thinking about journalism, which I had never really done before.
How will the scholarship help you?
Rent, travel costs, and costs of living are high, especially in London (where me and my sister live and study), and my family and I have all been working hard to ensure that my sister and I have the means to pursue our chosen courses. My brother is also due to start university in September 2024, so my family are also trying to financially prepare for that. We have all attended state schools, and we’re very proud that we’re all going on to study at university. This scholarship really helps to make my family’s shared goal of getting each of us through university study achievable.
What is your proudest academic achievement?
Receiving some academic prizes for my academic efforts during my undergraduate was a real privilege. I was also very proud to have achieved this scholarship – I spent a lot of time and effort applying to lots of different grants and funding bodies without much success, so I felt pleased that my effort then paid off in the end.
How do you see journalism changing in the future?
It’s a big question, and I think there are many ways in which it will change. One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot is that there’s been some research suggesting younger audiences aren’t that engaged in reading journalism. We’re going to need to work hard, and think creatively and laterally to bring in that new generation of potential readers, listeners and viewers.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We’re so lucky to have the resources that we have at City, and you’ll learn so much from it if you’re willing to throw yourself into it, work hard, and have the humility and self-awareness to take feedback, and use it to develop. By applying here, you’re in for a very exciting year!
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