Sam Greenway – BA(Hons) Journalism, 2006

I particularly enjoyed the part of my work placement at my local paper, the Bromsgrove Advertiser, a Newsquest title. This was brilliant as I was writing about an area I was familiar with. After graduating and a couple of months out of work I took a job in the local High Street working for a photographic developer but while there I continued to send off CVs and job applications. After seven months I had a call, out of the blue, from the editor of the Advertiser, who asked me to come to a job interview. Within days I had got the job and became a reporter at the paper in June 2007. This experience taught me to never give up and keep trying because you just don’t know what will happen.

Undoubtedly, I am extremely pleased I made the most of the work placement module at university as this helped me to get to know the editor who, some two years later, got in touch to offer me a job. I have been with the paper for around 18 months now and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. I remember the first time seeing a story I had written on the front page and my friends and family talking to me about it. It was surreal and a real buzz. To date I have had many more, but it never fails to give me that buzz. I am now hoping to complete the remaining NCTJ qualifications and my NCE this year. From there, who knows! Without going to Staffordshire University, quite simply, I wouldn't be where I am today.

The course was interesting, useful and designed for a job in the industry. In hindsight, the shorthand, newswriting, philosophy of journalism and public affairs modules were the most important as what I was taught I use everyday. My biggest regret is that I didn't complete the NCTJ exams while at university, particularly completing my 100 words a minute shorthand exam. Current and prospective students take note! I couldn't recommend Staffordshire University enough. Lecturers were approachable and always helpful. The social life was great and I even had a good time working at the university shop. As for the course, you can get a lot out of it as long as you are prepared to put the time and effort in. It was well worth it.