How did you get your first job in the me...

I’m interested to know: what you did how you did it when what paid off and what you wished you’d done. It would be great to share top tips with those trying to break into the industry. I’ll go first… After graduating with a degree in Journalism Studies from the University of Sheffield, I was working as the managing editor for their student newspaper. It was an interviewed-for and paid position (not one of those elected officer ones). It was a year-long position but I consider my ‘media’ career to have started after that. I was looking...

Pete’s painful career path...

I was in my final year at uni studying Media Arts in London and obviously I was hoping the course would lead into working in the media, although doing what – I had no idea. Serious accident On a mate’s 21st birthday in Blackpool I unfortunately threw myself down the stairs of a local B&B (it had nothing to do with any alcohol or the fact it was £1.50 for a triple vodka and Red Bull). I ended up splitting my kidney into several pieces and spent the next month in Blackpool hospital. Pete Woolford and Melinda Messinger at the BBC While I was there I was told I...

Video news on the web: Is it just the sa...

My colleague at the University of Sheffield Marie Kinsey sent me a link to a video by University of British Columbia journalism student Daniel Hallen. The piece has been nominated for a Canadian Online Publishing Award. Chickens to roost in Vancouver backyards There’s no denying it’s a good piece of journalism – but is it web video? In Marie’s words: “Look how closely it follows broadcast conventions.” I subscribe to the web rule that ‘simple is best’ and show the web students this video on pocket-sized journalism (from the...

New clients, new opportunities...

I’ve just started working for a new client, Jupiter, based in Nottingham. In their words: “Jupiter is a creative communications agency specialising in retail and consumer brands”. Jupiter’s clients include Capital One, Wilkinson and Argos. I’ve been proofreading, copywriting and getting lost trying to find people in their huge building. It’s great fun and I’m expanding my experience all the time. The main thing I’ve noticed is that the style guide is king. With this is mind I’ve tracked down a guide on how to...