Mark Taylor, Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism 2009
Mark, 30, studied on the Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism course while carrying out work experience for the Leader newspaper. Mark currently covers Newbury, Reading and politics for the Newbury Weekly News in West Berkshire.
How did you find the course at Glyndŵr University?
It gave me the best platform I could have asked for; working towards the NCTJ qualification while spending two days a week in a newsroom. It was intensive but the best preparation for a very intensive job.
What opportunities does the Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism open up?
It opened a door for me and gave me a chance to prove myself and show the newspaper how I could help them.
I was hired halfway through the course to help run the newspaper’s website which never would have happened without me being there. I also gained vital NCTJ qualifications while doing this.
How were you supported while studying the course?
I did work experience for on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with Fridays in university.
I needed to have a job for the first half of the week, which was tough at first, but there is help available if you look for it.
Through a combination of hard work, application, and being a bit of a pest to the newsdesk (in a good way) I was eventually hired by the paper and paid to go in on Mondays and Tuesdays too, which gave me more exposure to the reporters and editors and enabled me to absorb the way they carried out their work.
The paper hired me upon completion of the course in a journalism role specially designed to make the most of what I could offer them.
The course at Glyndŵr was invaluable, and the skills I picked up then have stuck with me, not to mention the people I met, many of whom have become very close friends.
The university couldn't have done more for me, or the other students, in terms of support. Our lecturer went above and beyond at every available opportunity and was never too busy to explain the intricacies of privacy laws, or how best to structure an intro, outside of the classroom.
The intensive nature of the course meant it was only for those serious about the profession, so knowing what you are getting into is vital.
Public affairs and media law were presented in an interesting and easily digestible way, and we had adequate time to practice shorthand and news writing; two skills where you can’t cut corners and must put in hard graft.
The guest speakers we had were always informative and interesting and there wasn't a single moment I did not enjoy any aspect of the course.
I will tell anyone who will listen it was hard work but it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
How has your career developed since the course?
After leaving the Leader I went to work as a news reporter in Newbury for the Newbury weekly News where I currently cover three patches as well as local and national politics.
The knowledge and experience I had picked up from my year on the course at Glyndwr made it easy for me to fit in and make an impact, and my confidence levels, which are understated but vital to certain parts of the role, quickly grew.
To give you an indication of the variety of the job I conducted an exclusive ad-hoc interview with the deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg during the riots which broke out earlier in the year and the next day interviewed a woman who had broken a world record by running a marathon in record time whilst wearing a dog costume. You just never know what is around the corner. It can be very stressful, but 99% of the time it doesn't even feel like a job.
If you are serious about journalism, and you have to be to make it, then this course is perfectly suited and gives you everything you need to begin your career.
