Writing and Communications - Solent University
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Writing \ ˈrī-tiŋ \ noun 1 the act or process of one who writes: such as a the act or art of forming visible letters or characters; specifically: handwriting b the act or practice of literary or musical composition 2 something written: such as a letters or characters that serve as visible signs of ideas, words, or symbols b a letter, note, or notice used to communicate or record c a written composition d inscription 3 a style or form of composition 4 the occupation of a writer; especially : the profession of authorship Communications \ kə-ˌmyü-nə-ˈkā-shəns \ noun 1 the imparting or exchanging of information, signals, or messages as by speaking, gestures, or writing 2 communications plural in form but singular or plural in construction a a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech) b the technology of the transmission of information (as by print, web, or telecommunication) 3 an act or instance of transmitting
You can communicate and create. Your writing is excellent and you have a story to tell. You’re itching to hone your craft, get out there and make writing your career. _ It’s a great move. There’s a plethora of You’ll develop a solid understanding of the opportunities in writing and communications, way organisations build their brand and and our industry-focused courses will communicate with the public, putting you make you highly employable in this ahead in the multidisciplinary world of stimulating sector. advertising, public relations and marketing. And we’ll help you to sell your own work, Nail your narrative, develop your critical so you can set yourself up as a freelancer. awareness and build on your creative flair through our hugely popular English with creative You’ll use industry-standard facilities in writing degree – number 1 in the UK and scored a friendly, highly skilled and dynamic learning 100% overall satisfaction in the latest National environment. Our team is rich in academics Student Survey. and industry experts. Our reputation and networks draw guest speakers from the We’ll add realism to your writing and top of their professions. Recent speakers communications ambitions, ensuring your have included former Kerrang! editor energies are channeled into unrivalled James McMahon, and professionals from opportunities, keeping you focused on your Work-Club, Saatchi and Saatchi, and AKQA. future. You’ll get to work on live briefs with You’ll get to work on live projects with the real-world clients, blending business acumen UK’s top creative firms and agencies. with industry-ready skills and your own We also offer international study trips cool creativity. and opportunities to study abroad.
NORWICH CARDIFF 2 BIRMINGHAM LONDON SOUTHAMPTON Why P LY M O U T H _ Southampton _ £1.6 billion of new city investment committed or under way _ 180+ pubs, bars and Southampton is a thriving nightclubs dockland city with a rich heritage, renowned for its culture, music and sport. _ Southampton has a thriving The home of music scene, ranging from world-famous emerging bands to live DJs, Premier stadium acts and festivals. League team Music journalists flock to Southampton The Joiners, voted the UK’s FC top small venue for live music by the NME. Whatever you like to listen to, there’s a home for it in Southammpton. It’s a great place for writers, hosting an annual poetry and spoken word festival and enjoying the buzz of Premier League football, international cricket and world-class sailing. _ International _ cricket at Over 46,000 Hampshire students, with County Cricket a population of Club’s home over 250,000 ground
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 3 _ _ Perfectly placed Media companies thrive in Southampton for access to our region. We have great is the cruise locations across relationships with Ericcson, capital of the the south: Arquiva and the BBC. Big name UK and home Bournemouth, advertising, marketing and PR to one of the Portsmouth firms based in the area include UK’s biggest and the New Lawtons, Carswell Gould and boat shows. Forest MediaQuest. B&Q, Carnival and Old Mutual Wealth also have specialist PR departments. _ Less than two hours from London by train _ Features one of the UK’s top shopping centres Southampton is the home of NewsQuest, a prolific media group with many newspaper and magazine titles. _ 300+ acres of managed woodland and _ open space at Southampton Five city-centre Common parks right on Solent’s doorstep The city boasts top theatres and cinemas, including the luxurious new Showcase, as well as a diverse and buzzy Cultural Quarter for the arts.
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 5 Briefly describe a typical Best and worst bits How is Solent helping you day on your course. of the course? prepare for a career? I live outside the city so My timetable allows me to When I applied for university, commuting takes time – make time for extracurricular I was still uncertain what path on a normal day I will arrive subjects and societies, I would choose, and even to my first lecture/seminar alongside spending time in had my applications for with breakfast in hand. I find the city with friends. The city apprenticeships all lined up that using my laptop for boasts so many sights and – I am the type of person who notes is helpful as I can follow activities to keep students busy. engages better in a practical the lecturer’s presentation environment. Solent Creatives notes online. Many of the lecturers that really helped me make the teach on the course are decision – with the opportunity Depending on the week’s industry professionals – it has to work on live client briefs workload, I will often use free been great to hear about their I was able to test my own periods for catching up on careers, and their guidance abilities and put theory into assignments and meeting for has been invaluable for gaining practice. The units during group projects – the University contacts and building up a the marketing course allow has great resource centres platform for myself. me to be graded upon these that remain open late into the experiences, providing me with evening, so working up to the The workload in the final year the power to tailor the degree deadline is not as stressful as is quite intimidating – the around my own learning style it could be! first few weeks have been and preferences. very intense. But already my lecturers have been very Solent highlight so far? reassuring. The highlight of my time at Solent was being part of a What has surprised you digital fundraising campaign about the course? which was successful in raising Keeping in contact with tutors £1,000. Our team created the has been so easy – emails are campaign ‘Paws4Bagdad’ from responded to very quickly scratch, forming a brand image and one-to-one meetings are and concept, and reaching accommodated, providing time an audience. for feedback and support. What is marketing? Marketing is the study of consumer needs and the approach to business activity that aids successful sales. “This course is for you if you have an interest in the relationship between business and the consumer. You will gain an understanding of the influences that affect a sale and a knowledge of how businesses adapt to meet the needs of their market.”
Image courtesy of Une Herzer DOP @lighthackers.com How did university prepare you for your career? This course provided me with an excellent foundation to build on at the start of my journalism career by helping me to make a confident and impressive transition into a real newsroom environment. My current position at Sky is one of the most diverse in the newsroom: not only do I produce, but I also report and present. Being able to combine all of these roles is also thanks to the excellent tuition I received in these areas to prepare me for my career. Favourite Solent memory? My favourite Solent memory was in my final year of the course. At this stage, all the Angela skills had come together and we were all tasked with producing and reporting a piece of content under Barnes a deadline for a live evening news bulletin. I found a story I wanted _ to cover with Stop The War Coalition in London and travelled to interview protesters outside Downing Street and film my story. BA (Hons) Journalism I remember self-shooting See MA Journalism and Multimedia my own piece-to-camera and really enjoyed being Communications _ on a breaking news story that other news outlets were Graduated 2008 there covering. I returned _ to university with all my footage and really enjoyed Sky News Reporter, the process of putting it all together and getting it Producer and Presenter ready for the news bulletin with the rest of the team.
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 7 Tell us a little about your I work with a cameraman What is journalism? career story so far. on location, advising of the Journalism is delivering the During my final year at footage we need – we work news fairly, succinctly and as university, I started freelance together to capture the story. accessibly as one possibly can. writing for the business section Afterwards, back at our main of the Daily Echo, gaining studio in London, I then watch What tips would you give weekly by-lines. In my third through the footage, write to someone wanting a career year, I also gained freelance up my report and work with in your industry? work at the Evening Standard an editor to get it ready for I would advise lots of work newspaper, achieving my first broadcast. experience – this often leads national front page by-line to your first job, as it did on a mayoral election Most recently, I was in Paris, for me. Impress during your campaign story. reporting on how it is trying to placements and always have draw tech talent over from the ideas, be creative, be confident Upon graduation, I was UK post-Brexit. and be proactive! accepted onto Sky News’ internship programme, a very I love the freedom we get to be Make the most of the competitive placement to get, creative and enjoy working on University’s facilities when you which lasted three weeks. After something to fit all the different are there; film, shoot and edit impressing them, I was offered platforms we consume now. original reports, and practise in a full-time position at Channel Every day I work with a really the studio with the kit available; 5 News, which was then part encouraging, supportive team build a portfolio of work when of Sky. I worked there for a and get to meet interesting you have the expertise and year as an online producer and people with fascinating stories tools, to help set you on your TV reporter. After that, I took to tell. path. a staff position at Sky News where I now work – and love What’s your career highlight Apply for placements and start my job! so far? freelancing as soon as possible Presenting a programme for the – find out who books freelance Tell us about what you are first time on one of the best journalists at different media doing now. international news channels organisations, send them your Every day at work is different, was a career highlight for me. CV and links to your work, thanks to the variety of skills I and persist. have – I go between producing, I also really enjoyed working on reporting and presenting. a special report from Iceland, Also, keep any public social which I also implemented media accounts professional – One of the programmes and executed – a 30-minute you never know who looks I occasionally host and show where we explored the at them! regularly report on is called impact of another ash cloud Swipe, Sky News’ weekly crisis, working with a team flagship technology show. I’m of scientists on one of the tasked with coming up with country’s most active and “This course is for you programme ideas, planning and dangerous volcanoes. executing them. I often travel if you want an excellent around Europe with the show, I delivered a piece-to-camera reporting on interesting stories for TV standing in the crater up-to-date range of core on TV and, to accompany my of the glacier covering Katla – reports, writing an article for the volcano on the watch list! journalistic skills which online or producing a version Definitely a career highlight! for mobile, Snapchat, Facebook can be applied to the and On Demand, catering to the different platforms. different media.”
8 Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk Jake Briefly describe a typical day on your course. Lectures and seminar times Tansley vary from day to day but usually come in blocks. Having back-to-back contact hours gives us the chance to discuss _ in seminars (where there are a lot of group discussions and high amounts of guidance from the lecturers) the topics that were brought up in our lectures, where the lecturer gives you BA (Hons) Marketing with Sport all the information you need _ to know about a given point in the topic. Student If our contact hours run over lunchtime, then we get an hour off, which is great to go and get some lunch at the cafe in the Spark with your course mates, or to get some work done in the library as around 50 per cent of the coursework is done in a group. This means it is easier to get to know everyone on your course a lot quicker.
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 9 “This course is for you if you want a good understanding of business and marketing in the sporting environment, before heading out into the industry. If you want to progress further into education, then Solent is a great place to start as well, offering lots of different variations on the same study path.” Best and worst bits of the What has surprised you How is Solent helping you course? about the course? prepare for a career? The best part about the course Honestly, what surprised me For the second year of the is the content itself. It is clear the most was how much I love course I was able to choose an that the course leaders really marketing! I have always been option for one of my modules. thought about what we would into sports and focused on the Solent offers a Curriculum need to know in real-world more practical side of it, not Plus module where you can situations – and also what really knowing what marketing choose to learn a language. we would find interesting – was even about. I took a With my ambition to do a when they were designing this gamble with going into sport master’s degree in some course. Having great lecturers marketing and it really paid off aspect of Chinese business/ delivering the course to us for me. The sport to marketing marketing, the language option helps as well. It is not the same ratio is balanced brilliantly gave me the opportunity to as school where the teachers and if you like both of those start to learn Mandarin in the may not be taking a class that subjects, then I doubt you will coming year. The marketing they really love. The lecturers find this course uninteresting. department also offers tuition show a true passion for what for CIM qualification and, with they are teaching. Solent highlight so far? the high price of education Although the course is brilliant, these days, the University You really have to be prepared Solent University is about more may be able to offer bursaries to govern your own learning than just academics. Solent for certain modules as well and come up with your own offers a wide range of clubs (I’m still working on it). motivation. At school, if you and societies to join and I play aren’t finishing your work then for the University rugby team. In one sentence, what is your you get punished and made Having a different dimension area of study to you? to finish it. At university, you to university life has allowed Sport marketing is fun, can go out seven nights a week me to make some great friends. fascinating and a great area and turn up to two lectures; And not only that, but playing to start a blossoming career. your lecturer will have a word rugby week in and week out with you, but ultimately if to win the league with them you aren’t prepared to put the and be promoted is beyond effort in then you will just fail description. and not be able to continue with the course.
Hollie Ward _ BA (Hons) English See BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing _ Graduated 2017 _ Marketing and Communications Assistant, Radian Group “This course is for you if you love reading! Also, if you want lecturers who are really passionate about their subject.”
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 11 How did university prepare It’s a fantastic concept, and the writer in residence for you for your career? really linked into my degree. Southampton Libraries. We By giving me a whole range of I am supporting the festival had a great initial meeting, opportunities to work and gain again this year, helping to where we brought together skills. In my first two years, rebrand the event, as well our different experiences and I acted as course representative, as creating its website, and areas of expertise to come up which mostly meant going to marketing the different sessions with sessions themed to either meetings and helping to make via social media. This also Wicked: The Musical or The decisions about the future of linked closely with my work Wizard of Oz for learners aged the course, as well as giving for ArtfulScribe, supporting 4-14, and then got the chance feedback about how the with the delivery of events to travel all over Hampshire students were feeling about life such as poetry slams, writing and Dorset delivering these at Solent. In my second year, workshops and showcases in sessions. The students got to do the English team came up with the local community. everything from storytelling to the Quill Society, and I was drama, crafts and finally creative elected as president. This was I decided to try out events writing. Their pieces were then all about making contacts in management on a larger scale submitted to the Mayflower, and industry and allowing students and did this by working at the best displayed in the theatre to network. Solent as a graduate intern during performances of Wicked. events assistant for one year. Favourite Solent memory? This was a fantastic experience It was great to be so actively I got tweeted by John Green! for me. I got to work with involved with this project, going I wrote an article, applying people like Ed Miliband MP and into schools and working with Roland Barthes’ ‘death of the the Princess Royal, organising children who had never been to author’ theory to The Fault events like campus launches a theatre, or never heard of The in Our Stars. This was part of and public lectures. I then Wizard of Oz, and seeing what the publishing unit that you changed role and became a they could figure out about the do in your second year of communications assistant story with the resources we English at Solent. I was writing within the same team, gave them. When they were for OntheScene, a student supporting with everything asked to explain what they magazine in Southampton, from internal communications thought the plot of Wicked and shared the article on to alumni events. The staff might be, they came up with Twitter. Next thing I know, at Solent are amazing, and ideas that were better than John Green had read it and incredibly supportive. I would the actual script! I really hope responded! My article got over highly recommend the graduate that they get to come and see 1,000 views! It was wonderful internship programme for any the show, because it’s truly and crazy. Solent graduates. inspiring. Tell us a little about your My current role as a marketing What tips would you give to career story so far and communications assistant someone wanting a career in When I started at Solent, for Radian Group involves your industry? teaching really interested everything from branding to You’ve picked a fantastic me. So I decided to get more social media and stakeholder subject. It’s so versatile, and classroom experience and engagement. It’s great to be valuable to any sector. Just take started working as a student doing something completely advantage of the opportunities ambassador. I have picked up different, as most of my work that people are giving you now a lot of freelance work along experience relates to education. – make sure your voice gets the way, including events heard and that people know management, teaching and What’s your career highlight who you are/what you can do. photography. so far? Pick up all of the experience Working on the Wicked- that you can, listen to the Immediately after graduating, themed outreach project feedback people give you and I worked for Southampton with the Mayflower Theatre. don’t ever be afraid to ask Festivals, writing all of the copy I co-facilitated the sessions questions! for the SO: To Speak Festival. with Nazneen Ahmed,
12 Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk S olent students and We have a multi- graduates have won million-pound media awards from YCN, complex, including D&AD and other a fully equipped creative organisations. newsroom. Why writing and communications _ Fourth in the sector for Sales of books and number of graduate journals reached a record start-ups – our fourth £4.8 billion in 2016, after top-ten year in a row. a 7 per cent year-on-year (HE-BCI 2018/19) increase – the biggest in a decade. (The Publishers Association 2017) Many courses are professionally accredited or recognised. There are real-world work Southampton is ranked experience opportunities 12th out of 25 regional at our in-house creative creative locations. agency, video production (Southampton City Council company and more. 2017 / 2018 The Facts Campaign)
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 13 The creative industries Our advertising-based Publishing is estimated continue to grow and courses also offer the to have accounted for are estimated to employ chance to visit London- 193,000 jobs in the UK over 1.8 million people based creative agencies creative economy in in the UK, an increase of such as D&AD, Young 2016, almost 10 per cent 5.5 per cent since 2013. Creative Network (YCN) of UK creative industries (Department for Culture, and the Institute employment. (Creative Media & Sport, 2015) of Direct and Digital Industries 2016) Marketing (IDM). Thanks to our close BA (Hons) English and links with industry, Creative Writing is ranked many of our writing number 1 in the UK and and communications scored 100% overall courses also offer satisfaction (National the opportunity to Student Survey 2020) take part in live briefs set by industry professionals. This enables you to solve real problems and come up with creative solutions. Work experience is a core element of all our writing and communications Throughout your studies you courses. During the will have the opportunity to second and third years of benefit from guest lectures, study you will have the learning valuable industry opportunity to undertake insight. Recent speakers have a work placement year. included James McMahon You will also be supported (former editor of Kerrang!) and encouraged to gain and representatives from work experience during companies such as Work- your summer break to Club, Saatchi and Saatchi, develop your skills and AKQA and more. knowledge further. Our in-house agency, Solent Creatives, gives The Students’ Union you the chance to work on one-off assignments Solent Sparks Society, and briefs, making you more experienced, in partnership with the connected and employable. National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs, offers entrepreneurship-focused activities, networking, practical help, events and guest speakers.
Joshua Jones _ BA (Hons) English and Media See See BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing _ Graduated 2018
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 15 Briefly describe a typical day on your course. “This course is for you if you value independence and individuality.” There was a lot of reading and discussion: you are encouraged to share your views, no matter how outlandish or far-fetched you may think they are. You are encouraged to push yourself and to learn new ways of reading literature, and typically discuss topics such as feminism, sexuality and existentialism, to name a few. Best and worst bits of the course? The level of freedom is a blessing and a curse, depending on the kind of worker you are. For me, I thrive on the level of independence, but I am also a very last-minute worker. It can be difficult to motivate yourself, but there was a lot of time outside of the classroom to dedicate to reading and research, and also to pursue projects outside of university. What has surprised you about the course? I’ve always had a deep dislike of Shakespeare since secondary school. I believe that schools don’t teach Shakespeare efficiently enough, to say the least, and I wasn’t expecting anything different. Now, I have an awakened appreciation of him as I never saw myself enjoying Shakespeare’s work. I’ve since learned to read and study literature outside of predisposed bias and prejudice. On the media side of the course I learned that I love recording and designing sound, and about various ways to practise and experiment with that. Solent highlight so far? Putting together On The Water through Solent Creatives, an anthology of poetry, prose and everything in between. I loved the entire process and I discovered I had a passion for publishing. How is Solent helping you prepare for a career? My course helped me gain confidence and find my voice, think differently and experiment in terms of creative writing and expression. I’m a spoken-word poet and I like to perform and publish poetry. The course encouraged me to do that. On the media side of the course I learned how to use software like InDesign (which I have used to create zines), and developed my skills in Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Lightroom. Media courses at Solent are very practical and hands-on. I believe the radio and photography studios and all the equipment (which can also be hired out for personal use) are really taken for granted: you won’t be able to use the work spaces and equipment once you’ve graduated. In one sentence, what is your area of study to you? A platform for artistic and creative expression to gain confidence and fluency in that expression, in whichever way one decides.
Why did you pick Solent? As a city Southampton intrigued me; it had a big football club and Max I was hoping I could get involved through the course! During the open day at Solent I was impressed with the radio and TV Whittle facilities, and this opened my eyes to what I truly loved, which was broadcast. Even if I didn’t know it at the time! _ What was the best thing about your course? All of the course lecturers were immediately friendly, welcoming and honest about BA (Hons) Sports Journalism their own careers and how _ they could help us. They had all worked – or still did work Graduated 2014 – in the industry, and their _ willingness to answer questions about their respective fields Presenter, Major League Baseball was always appreciated. They sent out weekly emails with work experience opportunities and potential jobs from alumni or fellow industry leaders. They organised regular guest lectures with big-hitters such as Matt Le Tissier, and understood exactly how to transfer the skills we were learning into the ‘real world’. What about the facilities? The facilities were fantastic, and from what I see when I go back to Solent, they’re getting better year on year. There are multiple professional studios for radio and TV – including industry- standard television galleries – it makes you feel like you are already in the industry and working towards your goals.
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 17 “Sports journalism is for you if you are passionate about sport, and have goals to work with high-profile athletes and cover the events you always followed as a fan.” The university also has a radio I recall presenting a short video When you walk into the set station, Radio Sonar, where you sports show in the newsroom in and you see everything that can present your own shows. front of everyone. It was really you might have done on work I co-hosted a Monday night exciting; now that I am working experience before, and thought football show; writing a show in TV I always think back to ‘I really want to be in that seat’ format with my coursemate that moment as being the one – and now you are – it’s a great Alex and having total control where I thought, ‘this is cool, feeling. It was an honour really, over what we talked about was this is what I want to feel more and I’m super grateful for it. about the coolest thing I had often’. And can’t wait to do more! experienced at that point. What opportunities were What tips would I provide for If you want to become a DJ or a there to get practical people that want to get into radio presenter, there is literally experience? this industry? no better experience than to We were asked by Hampshire You never know who you’re get into the studio, learn how Cricket Club to go down every impressing at any point in time! it feels to sit behind a mic and week to training and create a If you’re in a room for a job edit your own work. video segment for their website. interview, or you’re meeting It was an honour to know that someone, or you’re going for a Do you feel like your studies our trips to the club and the screen test… always be on your helped you prepare for a relationship we had built with best game! Prepare as much as career in the industry? How? the PR staff there - and our you can, because even if you 100%. Every core aspect was performances in this part of don’t get a role, you might have covered - writing long-form the course - had earned us paid impressed someone in that features, writing press releases work for a professional cricket room – and that will lead to and news stories, filming and club while we still studied in jobs in the future. editing both video and audio, our final year. It was invaluable podcasting, reading bulletins; preparation, too - interviewing So be prepared, and be friendly! you really felt like you had players, coaches and presenting Be open-minded, too. This all the necessary skills upon links on the Ageas Bowl pitch. industry will not take you graduating. Cricket was one of my first where you want to go directly. loves, so that was extra special. if you want to be a presenter In my third year we started on TV, you can go through News Days, which are now a What’s your career highlight so many different steps – regular portion of the course so far? producing, writing, working for all years. We would put My career highlights so far in radio as I did… there are together hourly radio packages absolutely has to be working for so many ways to get there. or TV segments, write scripts, Sky Sports; first as a reporter Good luck! book guests and film across the in January at the Paris game day as if we were working in for the NBA, but then hosting a professional newsroom. The a studio show on the first pressure was high; the deadlines of March this year. It was a and environments in which we six-hour show with two NBA were recording (studios, filming games to cover and it was just the general public etc) mirrored so much fun. what you do in the industry.
18 Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk Livi Wilkes _ How did university prepare BA (Hons) Public Relations you for your career? The BA (Hons) PR and and Communication Communication degree provided me with such a wide See MA Public Relations and variety of assignments, tasks Multimedia Communications and opportunities to gain _ real-life industry experience that I felt fully prepared in my Graduated 2016 PR role as soon as I graduated. _ Through experience of writing press releases and doing Digital PR Executive, Aira presentations to my cohort, I gained confidence, skills and practical experience that would come to be so valuable in the real world. The work placements between the first and second years also gave me the opportunity to work in both an agency and an in-house environment, and to build up my CV. Outside of my course, I was also a PR blogger which provided me with experience that I fully believe helped me get to where I am now. Because of the success of my blog, I was asked to do workshops and presentations to various students on multiple courses, which sparked a major passion in me for public speaking.
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 19 “This course is for you if you’re creative, like to communicate through writing, speaking and on digital platforms, and have a passion for seeing your ideas brought to life. Basically, if you want to kick-start a successful career in the PR industry, this course is for you.” Favourite Solent memory? Tell us about what you What’s your career highlight Being awarded the title of are doing now and what so far? Wessex CIPR Student of the it involves – a typical Some of my biggest Year 2016 when I graduated. working day. achievements to date have To see my hard work pay 8am – I get into the office, been landing coverage for off and my passion for PR check the news and reply to my clients in the likes of acknowledged, and to leave any emails from journalists Mail Online, Metro and The university with this award, was and editors. Telegraph! simply the icing on the cake of an incredible three years. A 8.30am – Usually at this time As part of my job, I also get close second favourite memory I’ll outreach to journalists to attend conferences and was winning the title of Britain’s with new content. It’s best to events around the country Best PR Student Blogger 2015. outreach in the morning so as to hear from some of the to reach the journalists before biggest names in the digital Tell us a little about your their daily pitch to their editors. PR industry about their career story so far. experiences. Not only are When I graduated I started 10.30am – I check the these events great networking working as a communications #journorequest hashtag on opportunities (I bumped into assistant at a local charity, Twitter, to see if there’s any a friend from my PR course but I soon realised that the opportunities for my clients to at one in London earlier this environment wasn’t fast-paced provide comment to the media. year!), but I’ve also been taught enough for me, so I started practical tips and tactics that looking for an agency role. 11am – I’ll do some research I’ve gone on to implement in and ideation for new big my day-to-day tasks. I soon landed a job at a digital content ideas. marketing agency called In one sentence, what is your Aira in Milton Keynes, just 12 noon – Lunch! area of study to you? outside London, as a digital To me, the best part of PR is PR executive – I’ve been here 1pm – I’ll work on creating being able to make a valuable for nine months so far and media lists for upcoming difference to my clients and I couldn’t be happier. I did a content, and find journalists their business. digital PR module in my third who might be interested in year which taught us all about the story. What tips would you give the world of SEO and the to someone wanting a career difference to traditional PR, 3pm – Write articles and in your industry? and it stuck in my mind ever blog posts. Some days I’ll be Get experience, be confident, since – now here I am! writing about recruitment, start up a blog, take an interest some days I could be writing in the world and know the about futuristic technology difference between traditional – it’s always different! and digital. 4pm – Home time!
20 Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk Daniel Sheldon _ BA (Hons) Sport Journalism _ Graduated 2018 _ Freelance Journalist How did university prepare Tell us a little about your opportunity to spend my time you for your career? career story so far. covering Bournemouth and University helped me prepare My freelance career started at Southampton in the Premier for my career by giving me the the beginning of my second League for the national platform to go out and get year when I started covering newspapers. To be reporting on real-life work experience. Swindon Town’s matches for Premier League games before Not only that, the lecturers M & Y News Agency. That the start of my final year at on the course have a plethora continued throughout the Solent is something that I am of contacts who they are season and I remember seeing immensely proud of. more than happy to let you the course leader at Fratton use if you ask them. Because Park for one of Portsmouth’s of these contacts, I managed fixtures and saying that to get myself freelancing hopefully covering Swindon opportunities at M & Y would lead to bigger and better News Agency. things. After proving myself at Swindon, I was given the
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 21 “This course is for you if you have a passion for sports news and you want to be given the tools to learn how to deliver that news to an audience.” Tell us about what you What is your area of study are doing now and what to you? it involves. Sport journalism isn’t just A typical match day involves watching Premier League me arriving at the stadium two football and writing about hours before the game starts. it. It’s about being naturally This gives me time to chat to inquisitive, having a natural other journalists, eat some flair to your writing, having the lunch and then do any final confidence to ask questions preparation for the match if I and ultimately picking up a need to. I then watch the match telephone to ring someone. at the same time as writing my As a generation who spend a report, which is normally sent lot of their time playing on their once the referee blows the final phone, all too often we are too whistle. After that, I sit down in scared to use it to call someone. the press conference to speak to the managers. I then rewrite What tips would you give my match report but base it on to someone wanting a career what the managers have said. in your industry? From there, I go into the mixed If I were to give one tip for zone to try and grab a player students looking for a career to interview for a follow-up in this industry, it would be piece which will appear in the to put yourself out there. Had newspapers on Monday. I not volunteered at M & Y News Agency in my first year, What’s your career highlight I wouldn’t have been covering so far? Premier League football in my I have had many pinch-yourself final year. Don’t just expect moments so far. Interviewing opportunities to fall into your Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho lap – you have to make them and Jürgen Klopp all stand out. happen for yourself. But my current highlight is having an article published in The Times. It is my dream to one day work there, so when I saw my name written above the story I had written, it was a moment I won’t forget.
22 Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk How to apply _ 1 3 Research universities March – September 2 Apply online via UCAS – by 15 January Work on your UCAS application September – January www.solent.ac.uk/courses
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 23 4 Check UCAS track Solent University Code name: SOLNT This is where you’ll see if you have UCAS code: S30 an unconditional offer (the place is yours) or a conditional offer www.ucas.com (based on exam results or other evidence), or if your application has been unsuccessful. 6 Find out if you’ve got your place You’ll see in UCAS track if your place is confirmed. BTEC results are published from July onwards and A-level results will be published in mid-August. 5 Reply to your offers • Select your firm choice. • Select your insurance choice – this is a back-up choice in case you don’t meet the conditions for your firm choice. • Decline your other offers.
24 Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk Extras _ Our well-equipped student residences, with fantastic study-bedrooms, are right in the city centre and only a short walk Our student from the main campus. residences For more information, visit www.solent.ac.uk/accommodation Worried about the cost of going to university? There’s plenty of support on offer to ensure that financial circumstances don’t stop you from Fees and gaining a higher education. finance For more information, visit www.solent.ac.uk/finance Prepare for university in less than an hour each week with our tips, guides and quizzes. 52 things For more information, visit www.solent.ac.uk/52-things
Writing and Communications | www.solent.ac.uk 25 Writing and UCAS Work Foundation tariff placement route Communications points opportunity available UNDERGR ADUATE COUR SES BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing 104-120 Y Y BA (Hons) Marketing 104-120 Y Y BSc (Hons) Marketing (Top-up) * Y - BA (Hons) Marketing with Advertising 104-120 Y Y BA (Hons) Marketing with Sport 96-112 Y Y BA (Hons) Sports Journalism 96-112 Y Y *Refer to admissions for entry requirements POSTGR ADUATE COUR SES MA Advertising and Multimedia Communications MA Creative Advertising MA Journalism and Multimedia Communications MA Luxury Brand Management MSc Marketing MA Public Relations and Multimedia Communications MA Sports Broadcast Journalism
STARS ™ RATING SYSTEM 2019 Solent University solentuniversity East Park Terrace @solentuni Southampton @solentuniversity SO14 0YN solentuni T. +44 (0)23 8201 3000 E. ask@solent.ac.uk www.solent.ac.uk
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