Lesson 1: Starting Out In Journalism
Submit a personal statement giving details about yourself; include your age, education, background, current occupation (if any), interests and hobbies. State whether you have had any articles published to date and what you hope to gain from this course. Complete the exercise in no more than 200 words
I am a 36-year-old sport enthusiast, currently living in Chingford.
I grew up in Edmonton, to a working-class family. Between 2004-2007, I attended Winchester University to study Sports Studies.
After university, I set about gaining my FA coaching badges. This was greatly helped by a voluntary role, coaching in the Spurs Women development squads between 2009-2012.
Unfortunately, the recession meant that voluntary roles became a secondary focus. I spent over the next decade working in the print industry, serving a wide range of clients.
In January 2018, I welcomed my first son, closely followed by twin boys in November 2019. When the pandemic started, I was furloughed and eventually made the decision to leave the workplace to become a stay-at-home father.
I am a Spurs fan who regularly attends matches. I have never had anything published but have become interested in sports writing through my daily consumption of sports publications and podcasts.
By enrolling on this course, I want to develop my writing skills and understand how articles are crafted whilst also combining my passion for sport. Hopefully this will give me a platform where I can write pieces that an audience will enjoy.
Give details of your journalistic ‘equipment’ and level of achievement in keyboarding and shorthand, where appropriate. State the academic standard of your English and give details of the books, websites, magazines and newspapers you have read recently. (150 words maximum).
I achieved a GCSE C grade in English. Courses at A-level and university required regular written and researched assignments. I am comfortable with researching from a variety of sources and believe I would be able to identify markets for finished work.
I would consider my keyboard and computer skills to be of a good level. However, it has been sometime since I presented a written piece so would need to pay attention to my written English. In my former employment, I regularly communicated with clients by email.
I am currently reading ‘The Blizzard, A Football quarterly’ (issue 43). The articles provide an in-depth analysis into current issues in football. I have recently read a new Spurs fanzine called ‘Eighteen Eighty-Two’ which includes professional journalists currently covering the club. I am a subscriber of ‘The Athletic.’ Furthermore, I have read an extensive range of sport biographies and autobiographies.
Write a factual report (not a review) in 300 words after attending one of the following events. (This exercise is to test your ability to observe and report facts).
• a public meeting
• a charity fundraiser
• a special event
• any local exhibition (in a library, art gallery or exhibition centre)
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has been hosted by the Natural History Museum since 1984.
The exhibition displays nature photography, with the aim of getting visitors to “consider the extraordinary diversity of wildlife which we share with our world, and the role we have in protecting its future.”
The selection process is extensive. Seven judges, with a background in science, photography and broadcasting are appointed to examine 50,490 entrants.
Images are then judged on a series of strict checks for authenticity, ethics and image manipulation. They are then divided into 16 different categories with the 100 winning or highly commended photographs being displayed at the exhibition.
As you walk through the gallery, each section details the award category and offers an expert’s view on how these habitats have had to adapt to human interference.
The images themselves are accompanied by captions to provide visitors with information on the photographer and location of the shot. Other information includes technical camera details and a digital code that you can use on your smart phone.
Sustainability and the environment are a recurring theme. The material and structures are all reusable for future exhibits and the lighting panels are powered by more efficient LEDs to limit energy.
The end of the exhibition celebrates the overall award winners. This year’s Adult Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Laurent Ballesta for ‘Creation.’
The Young Photographers Award was won by Vidyun R Hebbar’s ‘Dome Home.’ The exhibit also showcases the People’s Choice Award.
25 additional images are selected by the Natural History Museum and voted for by the public. This was awarded to Cristiano Vendramin’s ‘Lake of Ice.’
They join a rich history of winners dating back to the first competition in 1965, which was originally organised by ‘Animals Magazine.’
