BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism & Feature Writing
Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - Malcolm X After three years of hard work your time as a student, here at Solent, is about to come to an end. But don’t think this is where your connection with us ends. We are very, very proud of the achievements of our Magazine Journalism students and work hard to maintain a connection with them as they begin to make names for themselves in industry. From feature writers to page designers; from PRs to social media experts; from editorial photographers to fashion stylists; from local magazines to multi national publishing organisations, our graduates are succeeding both at home and abroad and their success should give you confidence to take that first step towards your dream job. From choosing your first option to shaping your final major project, you’ve been on an amazing journey and developed highly desirable skills along the way. Now it is time to see how your peers have put those skills to good use remembering that they too were once sat where you are now...........doubting their ability to take the next step. The success of our past students is testament to their drive, ambition and determination to succeed. Their enthusiasm for the industry and their tenacity to secure work placements, internships and, ultimately, jobs is something we love to shout about. Just think....next year we will be shouting about you. Rachel Lamb, Course Leader BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing
Kelseigh Zammit 4. Pia Webley 6. Hollie Druce 8. Steph Brooks10. Daniel Poole 12. Kirsty McCormack 14. Georgina Whittle 16. Paris Novinni 18. James Robertson 20.
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learnt a lot during the three years studying Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing at Southampton Solent. Although there were some units I enjoyed less than others the whole course was such a good experience and really prepared me for the world of journalism. Since leaving university I have freelanced for several national magazines and had features published in Cosmopolitan and Fabulous magazines, interviewed television personalities and blagged a few freebies from magazine beauty cupboards along the way. Although I found myself less interested in units such as ‘What’s the Story?’ and ‘Web Publishing’ they are the areas of study I found the most valuable as they are the units that taught me the skills needed to get my job as a Web and Social Network Administrator. At times, the course seemed like a lot of work and I sometimes struggled but it was all worth it as it has given me the ability and knowledge to pursue the career I have always wanted. Kelseigh Zammit, freelancer for Fabulous Magazine and Social Network Administrator at Univeristy of Northampton
“I sometimes struggled with the workload but it was all worth it as it has given me the ability and knowledge to pursue the career I have always wanted� 5
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t’s been over a year since I collected my degree and what a sobering experience graduating is – literally. Parties on school nights are rare, and lying in bed until the afternoon is no longer justified. But that suits me just fine because, finally, all of the skills that I have developed has led to a career I love. Three years of studying (plus a year of retakes, just to be sure), several months of unpaid internships has now all paid off. I got my first job in 2010 and I undertook the role of Interactive Content Producer for Orange Music online. This role comprised of writing music news daily, reviewing singles, albums and live gigs and my favourite bit – interviewing a slew of high profile artists. It was a fantastic first job, and I loved writing about something I had a real interest in, receiving free music and gig tickets every week and having the opportunity to meet popstars. While I had always envisaged a career in print journalism, the immediacy of working on an online platform is something I discovered to be more satisfying and exciting. This has led to my current job, as an Online Content Producer for BBC’s highly-anticipated new talent competition The Voice. My role encompasses writing web copy, researching, scheduling content, developing dynamic online video feature ideas, and engaging with fans via social media platforms. It has been a real eye opener working on such a massive show and the buzz of being the studio during filming is unlike anything I have experienced in my career thus far. I haven’t completely turned my back on writing features; I have been a regular contributor to Studio Magazine (a digital women’s film magazine) and it’s useful to be able to transfer my skills between different platforms.
My degree has served as a useful foundation for a career in the media, whether it be in print, online or even television. But it’s really after leaving that you get to put your understanding of production processes or writing for different audiences into practice. Ultimately, I found that confidence (and importantly, contacts) is gained through internships and while I had many ‘no’s before I got that first ‘yes’, passion will eventually prevail. Pia Webley, Online Content Producer at BBC
“Ultimately, I found that confidence is gained through internships and while I had many no’s before I got that first yes, passion will eventually prevail.” 7
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oing Magazine Journalism has helped me get a job in PR as it provided a base for me to write for different types of audiences. I developed a broad knowledge of magazines which is beneficial for me now as I work as Senior Press Cuttings Assistant for Purple PR. I look at every magazine you could think of from the US, Europe and Australia. The degree was so beneficial as you get to make contacts and you tend to develop specialties in certain subjects ie fashion, music, beauty and even design. When you intern which you are always encouraged to do, you will find that the people you meet will be the people you go to in the future. Your peers are also going to be the future journalists/PR’s and as soon as you get your foot in the door you already have a broad base of contacts. The Adobe Photoshop and InDesign work shops as well as the Fashion Styling Unit were by far my favourite, all the skills learnt in these classes are what I now use in industry. Knowing the technical side behind magazines and newspapers gives you an edge over other applicants. Hollie Druce, Senior Press Cuttings Assistant at Purple PR
“The degree was so beneficial as you get to make contacts and you tend to develop specialties in certain subjects like fashion, music, beauty and even design.� 9
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have been working at the Mail Online since August 2011 writing for the TV and Showbiz section of the website. I would say that the number one thing that the industry looks for is experience. It may sound like a typical thing to say but work experience and internships look great on your CV and will prepare anyone for their future career. Despite starting my work experience at the age of 15, I really wish I had done more during my time at college and university as it really is no fun doing unpaid placements once you finish university and can no longer rely on your student loan! Students should make the most of the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays and apply for placements in advance. In terms of journalism I think it is always a good idea to write in your spare time and get into the habit of finding your own stories, and also always be aware of what’s going on around you so that you could potentially be the first person to break a story or spot one that someone else might not. I think that the degree I did at Solent prepared me for the industry by teaching me a variety of skills that I could adapt to various jobs. At the moment I am writing for an online publication so the web design module that I did on the course has certainly come in handy, but I also learnt a lot about the marketing side of magazines which will no doubt come in handy if I do work for a print publication one day.
Students aren’t always going to be certain of which field they want to work in, or are going to end up working in, so I think if courses have a variety of modules, like Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing did, then individuals are going to be prepared when they graduate and start looking for their first job in the industry. Kirsty McCormack, TV and Showbiz Writer for Mail Online
“It is always a good idea to write in your spare time and get into the habit of finding your own stories, and also always be aware of what’s going on around you” 11
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he many units that make up BA magazine journalism have sculpted the journalist I am today. I can now write a feature on pretty much any topic you throw at me and carry it through to every journalism platform I have at my disposal. I can put the feature into a glossy magazine that I have designed from scratch using InDesign, or I can condense it into a web-friendly format and have it ready for Dreamweaver. I can also wield a digital SLR and conduct my own photography studio, complete with lighting, props and models. Something I’m particular proud of is my ability to write a thoughtprovoking, theoretical article – something I once thought I wasn’t capable of. My dissertation – an exploration of female spectatorship and Desperate Housewives – was a joy to write, because it was on a topic that I enjoyed. My favourite part of the course was being part of an editorial team designing our own magazines. I practically lived in InDesign during my time at Solent. I consider myself to have a certain flair for magazine design – it’s something I’ve always wanted to do but could
never find the confidence to allow my skills to ignite. Today, I am deputy editor of online magazines for a successful digital media company in London. My role has left me feeling I’m still studying magazine journalism because my day-to-day responsibilities are so varied. I write and sub copy, I design material for print and online, I even show my face in the advertising and marketing side from time-to-time, designing advertisements for our websites or mail-outs for our subscribers. Solent has truly built solid foundations on which I can begin a successful future. After having learnt everything there is to know about designing and writing for your own magazine from scratch – and how to condense it for digital purposes – I was able to simply fall into place in my new job. I feel quite at home. Daniel Poole, Online Magazine Editor at Progressive Digital Media
“My favourite part of the course was being part of an editorial team designing our own magazines. I practically lived in InDesign during my time at Solent.� 13
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nce I graduated from Solent I took a three month internship at a publishing company which was good fun and showed me how I could use the skills I'd gained on my degree in a different way. I got on really well with the boss of this company and he offered me another three month stint on one of his other companies, again using different skills again helping to set up digital publishing software. I know this sounds a lot of working for free, and at the time it was hard, however, I'd been warned this was the only way to make the contacts and a name for yourself in the industry and now, thank fully, that time and effort has paid off. After the internships I was offered a role back at the publishing company as an editorial assistant working on lots of different contract magazine titles. I'm still at Communikator Publishing, I have been here for now for 2 1/2 years, and have been promoted twice since that initial role. I'm now a Senior Staff Writer. On the digital publishing side of things, I have a very large input into this business too (Page Turn Interactive), as the two businesses are really coming together – one service to suit all type of thing! So I deal with a lot of the technical support side of using the system, and have been involved in its developments, as well as the launch of two new digital publishing systems that are set to launch in the next few weeks. We work across a broad range of titles from big hair care and beauty brands to Warner Music Group. It really is diverse and exciting and I love it. My boss also has a third business – a picture agency for catwalk and red carpet imagery called Goodspeed & Valentine. I help him prepare for London and New York Fashion Week each season
(preparing schedules, uploading photos etc) and have also recently been given the role of updating the company website, encouraging companies to subscribe to our picture library and keep social networking up-to-date on all three businesses. It's a real muck-in type of job, but great fun too! My degree at Solent has really given me the skills I need to work alongside those who have been in the business for years and feel confident - and more importantly, competent. Breaking out into the business isn't easy and you have to be determined but I'm proof that the determination does pay off and life in the industry is exactly what I hoped it would be. Sara Standing, Senior Staff Writer at Communikator Publishing
“My degree at Solent has really given me the skills I need to work alongside those who have been in the business for years and feel confident as well as competent� 15
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hat did I learn on the BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism degree? Well... At first I was put off writing, after my first few weeks I hated the idea of putting pen to paper and hated having my work over analysed. I took everything to heart. But managing to survive three years of magazine analysis, reading theory books that made no sense (thats what I thought back then!) crying over dreamweaver/photoshop/quark/indesign/essays...it was all worth it! The most valuable part of my course for me, was finding what I was passionate about - and similarly what I wasnt! It didnt take long before I realised that I wasnt overly passionate about hunting down stories or writing features. I was much more of a creative type, and loved spending hours engrossed in InDesign and Photoshop designing. The minute I finished Uni I nagged local magazines, newspapers and any contact I had for a work experience and internships. I worked as a sub/editor/designer on my local newspaper, wrote for Monarch Airlines inflight magazine Explorer (and now freelance for them), became a freelance designer for an estate agents and interned on a high fashion glossy, HauteMuse. Through doing lots of work placements I have managed to gain amazing contacts and fill my CV with loads of experience, which has since helped me secure my new job.
I am now working for TUI Travel in Crawley, and work as their Publishing Executive, working on a variety of travel brochures. Thanks to my degree, and my work placements I have managed to secure my dream job. I get to sit at my own mac, at my own desk, and do what I enjoy - plus drink tea, and look at very desireable holidays - it’s pure bliss, and I couldnt be happier right now! Georgina Whittle, Publishing Executive at TUI Travel
“Through doing lots of work placements I have managed to gain amazing contacts and fill my CV with loads of experience, which helped me secure a job.� 17
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worked as the Editorial Assistant at Star magazine from early Feb until late April 2011 as the Editorial Assistant was going travelling for three months. I'd met her and the team a few years previously when I completed work experience whilst I was a student at Solent on the magazine Journalism degree and had stayed in touch. After a few stints as a workie, Natasha asked me whether I would be interested in covering her as the E.A when she went on holiday. I agreed to do so, and I covered her a few times in 2010. Thankfully the staff at Star were happy with my performance, and this led to them offering me the role on a temporary contract last year. I had a wonderful time there and gained so much experience from it all. My duty was to assist the editors and editorial team, so although I did write some exciting articles, I was mainly there as their PA and attended to all administrative tasks. However, just being around everybody and seeing how the magazine ran on a day-today basis was invaluable experience, and the fact that I would be paid a monthly wage was a huge bonus! Once my time at Star came to an end, I emailed various departments around the Northern & Shell building (accounts, legal etc) to thank them for assisting me through my weekly tasks during the last three months. They had all been so welcoming and helpful, and due to the recommendation of one of our lovely solicitors, one of the managing editors of the company very kindly offered me some more work should I be interested. The role was essentially that of a paralegal (something I had no experience in) and although my ultimate aim was to become a writer, I accepted his offer, as I wanted to keep myself around the building for as long as possible. The job was only supposed to last for a week but this ending up
turning into three months worth of work! I was sat with OK Magazine's syndication team as the task focused around a court case between one of our newspapers and a picture agency, so I divided my time between them and the legal team. Despite the fact that this type of work was not something that I wanted to pursue in the future, I gained many new skills from my time there, and it was very exciting to be involved in a project of such magnitude. I ended up meeting some of the most senior directors in the company, and even the chairman of Northern & Shell himself, Richard Desmond. And again, it was more paid work to add to my CV. During this period, I had also asked the features team at Star whether they would be willing to have me come in as a freelancer on their desk from time to time. They agreed to this, and since June I have been a permanent staff member on the features/news desk and I've had various articles published. When I saw my first proper byline and double page spread in the magazine it was such a fantastic feeling....I felt like all the months of hard work had paid off! During my three months as Editorial Assistant I worked 90 days in a row without a single day off (five days a week at Star, two at Toni and Guy on the reception desk)! It was exhausting, but I'm happy to say that it was all worth it. You have to work hard to achieve your
dreams but it can happen. I left uni with the skills needed to hold my own in industry and was determined to work hard to get a job on a magazine. My highlights at Star! so far have included interviewing Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls, being sent to cover the Big Brother 2011 final in November, and meeting many celebrities ranging from Janice Dickinson to Sinitta! It's been a really wonderful experience and I hope it leads to more opportunities in the future. I can honestly say that I would not be in this position if it wasn't for the Magazine Journalism & Feature Writing course at Southampton Solent, and I will always be grateful for the time I spent on the degree, with my Rachel, Lisa and my fellow classmates. I wish all of you students and prospective students much luck in the future...follow your heart and live the dream! Paris Novinni, Daily Express and Star Magazine
“You have to work hard to achieve your dreams...I left uni with the skills needed to hold my own in industry and was determined to work hard to get a job on a magazine� 19
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’m Welsh and had never ventured so far as Bristol before enrolling at Southampton Solent. Now I’m living in central London and writing for the Mirror – and my mother (bless her) can’t quite believe what I’ve accomplished. But there’s no time for humility when you’re writing a music column for Sunday’s most read tabloid, producing original and thought provoking weekly rugby features for Mirror Sport, acting Online Sport Editor for The People and, of course, dealing with the day’s breaking news. And I began this unbelievable career in journalism at Solent. I went on a course visit to the Daily Mirror offices where I met my current boss Ben Rankin, editor of Mirror.co.uk. I was invited back for work experience on different platforms on the website: Mirror, MirrorFootball and 3am over an 18-month period. As a workie, I scooped a world exclusive on footballer Gareth Bale, interviewed X Factor winner Matt Cardle and had a Twitter feud with Lily Allen. It was after the lovely Lily asked if I wrote my childish jokes in crayons that I was offered paid shifts while studying for my final year at University. Commuting between Southampton and London for the most important months of my academic career would have been near impossible if it wasn’t for the support of staff at Solent. The team there
helped shape and guide my writing to make it strong enough for a national newspaper to take me seriously, inspired me with great guest lectures and offered support and advice when I needed it most. Now, I write a music column in the Sunday Mirror which features a live review, album of the week and interview slot. For The People, I take the editorial decision as to which stories our roving reporters file for the paper edition and which should take the splash on the homepage of the website - I’m living the dream. If you want to prepare for life as a professional journalist writing for Britain’s most circulated tabloid newspaper then learn to love strong coffee, microwave meals and no matter how long you spend in the office accept the fact your work is never done - you think you are working hard now...prepare for a big shock. Just remember this isn’t a job – it’s a lifestyle and an addiction. James Robertson, Daily Mirror and The People
“The wonderful team at Solent helped shape and guide my writing to make it strong enough for a national newspaper to take me seriously� 21