Case Study

In July 2020, I received an offer to study an MA in Journalism at Sunderland. After a year of travel blogging in South America, the course seemed the perfect way to build on the writing skills I’d picked up and realise my dream of being a travel journalist. But a week before the start of term, doubt set in.

Did I want to commute from Newcastle every day? Would my CV not look better with a master’s from a traditional red brick university? Could I, as a lifelong Newcastle United fan, really see myself graduating on the pitch at the Stadium of Light?! Thankfully, Sunderland’s programme leader who I had met earlier that summer emailed me, reminding me that Sunderland’s course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and left the door open for me to change my mind. I’m glad I did!

The first term saw my course mates and I getting to grips with shorthand, video journalism, and learning everything there is to know about media law and court reporting in England and Wales. That was on top of finding stories, interviewing sources, and writing for the University’s student publications.

A master’s isn’t easy, and like most people on the course, I found it difficult to balance my social life and part-time work with my studies. Plus, journalism isn’t just something you can switch off from as soon as you leave the mediaHub. Thankfully, the support network of lecturers and students got much of the group through stressful and difficult times.

A global pandemic meant a year no one could have foreseen. However, the skills we’d picked up and worked on in the first term and a half meant we were equipped to pass NCTJ exams and consistent support and classes from our shorthand tutors helped me and my classmates to pass our 100 wpm exams – still an essential in journalism.

The final term saw us putting all of our skills together and working on final projects of our own choosing – with course members choosing anything from an award-nominated walking and hiking magazine to a series of articles about conspiracy theories.

Though I’ve now graduated from the University, I’m still in touch with course mates (who are now friends) and lecturers, who have been there to offer support on pitching articles to major publications, getting work experience, and generously sharing their contacts. I’m also being supported by the University’s Digital Incubator in launching my freelance journalism business.

With help from the University, I’ve been published in my dream publication, Lonely Planet, as well as Metro, and regular freelancing with north-east business magazine BDaily. Looking back, I’m not only pleased with the choice I made, but proud of my degree from the University of Sunderland. I feel prepared to work an industry that is more important than ever right now.”

Published 15 January 2021