Finding the fun in the front page
Some people spend years trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, but for one University of Staffordshire graduate, the calling came early. In fact, it arrived in primary school, courtesy of a self-made newspaper where they naturally appointed themselves editor-in-chief.
With a self-confessed "nosey" nature and a lifelong love for writing, pursuing journalism at university was the obvious next step. But while the career path was clear, the exact destination took an unexpected, lighter turn during their studies.
"I always knew I wanted to be a journalist," Mel recalls. "I experimented a bit at uni, trying out music and sports journalism, but I kept coming back to general news because I loved the variety of covering different topics."
The real game-changer came during a one-to-one session with her course leader, who pointed out a natural comedic wit in her writing style.
"I had always imagined journalism as being quite strait-laced. Realising there was space to be more light, conversational, and personality-led was a bit of an eye-opener. From there, things started to click into place."
Trusting the instinct
That evolving style proved to be a perfect match for the industry, but it was a hands-on work experience placement at the Southport Visiter that cemented their confidence.
"Up until that point, I thought I’d need years to properly develop core journalism skills," they say. "But while I was there, I realised quite quickly that I had a natural way with people."
After chatting with a local contact about an upcoming weekend event, they managed to negotiate a 50p-off reader voucher. It was a savvy move that landed the story right on the front page.
"It sounds small, but for me, it was a big moment. I wasn't just working towards being a journalist in theory anymore; I could actually do it. It showed me that trusting my instincts was just as important as anything I was learning in the classroom."
That drive carried through to further placements with the Southport Champion, Skem Champion, and a prestigious Sky News Diversity Placement, where Mel successfully hit her goal of sourcing and publishing stories for the national broadcaster's popular "weird news" section.
From LADbible to major networks
Graduating with a powerhouse portfolio, she landed her first role as a journalist at LADbible - the ultimate playground for a conversational, high-impact writing style. Mel quickly made her mark, working on major campaigns like the mental health initiative U OK M8? and leading the "LAD of the Week" series, which impressively raised over £50,000 for charity.
Driven by a genuine passion for gaming, she leant into the niche early on, writing for GAMINGbible before climbing the ranks of the digital media world. Mel later moved to Social Chain - founded by Diary of CEO, Steven Bartlett - as Head of Editorial, running massive communities like GameByte and Fraghero, before stepping up as Head of Content at esports site GGRecon.
From here she joined BBC Radio 5 Live as a producer, simultaneously volunteering with BBC News to support their gaming coverage. That extra hustle paid off, paving the way to her current role as a Senior Journalist and News Video Creator on the BBC News YouTube team.
"A typical day is a mix of creative and reactive work," they explain. "I spend a lot of time pitching ideas, scripting, filming, and editing videos, working from concept to publish. My main responsibility is to make BBC News accessible, engaging, and relevant for YouTube audiences, while keeping the accuracy and trust people expect from the BBC."
#ProudToBeStaffs
Looking back, it wasn't just the lectures that shaped her trajectory, but the vibrant campus life at Staffs. After finishing her studies, Mel was elected Vice President of the Students' Union and subsequently took on the role of Union President the following year.
"Those roles pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way," she says. "I quickly became much more confident in public speaking, leading meetings, and representing student voices at a higher level—particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It taught me how to speak up and influence change, which is exactly what I do in my journalism today."
Whether Mel was successfully bidding for NUS grants to bring a funfair to campus to boost student voter turnout, or grilling interviewees for the evening news, the foundations were built in Staffordshire.
"My time at Staffs gave me confidence, resilience, and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people. It helped me develop skills that went far beyond my degree, and they've been essential in getting me to where I am today."
Alumni Connected Community
Connect with your classmates, receive career support, mentor future alumni, update your details, expand your professional network, create your own groups, share events and so much more. Or just keep in touch with us and let us know what you are up to.
Join the community