Beth Warmington: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate
Beth Warmington
BA(Hons) English with Media Studies 2002 to 2005
Why English and Why Falmouth?
I think Falmouth actually chose me rather than it being the other way around. When I looked at everything the course offered; studying literature, theatre, Marxism, subcultures, aspects of politics, film, to mention just a few of the subjects covered, I knew that I wanted to do this course. For me, it wasn't always a certainty that I would undertake a degree and I had a rather unconventional route through further education. Jason (Whittaker) told me that having certain life experiences, which didn't just involve going straight from A Levels to a degree, was what Falmouth looked for in its students and made me feel that I would have something valuable and unique to offer.
What are you up to now?
After graduating in 2005, I moved between a few different jobs including working for the NHS and a stint with a children's charity both in Cornwall, In November of last year I landed a job as Parliamentary Researcher for the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, Dan Rogerson, based in Westminster. I started this in January 2008 and have now been working in Parliament for seven months.
My role involves writing briefings and speeches for debates in the House, occasional articles and press releases, asking parliamentary questions as well as more PA type functions such as organising the Westminster diary, arranging meetings and events.
My MP is also the party's lead spokesman on the Planning Bill which has just finished its stages in the Commons and has now moved to the House of Lords. Having had no parliamentary experience whatsoever and coming straight into having to read and make amendments to a highly complex Bill was very daunting and rather chaotic but is exactly what I love about being in this environment.
Working in Westminster provides amazing opportunities to meet people, organisations and to do things you never normally get to do in other jobs. A few weeks ago, I sat three rows behind Gordon Brown as he gave evidence to the Liaison Committee and from September, as well as working three days a week for my MP, I will be working for Baroness Bonham-Carter, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson in the Lords on broadcasting and who used to produce Newsnight and A Week in Politics. There are always new challenges here to take advantage of and after a settling in period, there's nowhere else I'd rather be right now.
How did your course help you get where you are today?
I have no doubt that English with Media Studies has changed the way that I think and helped shape how I view the world. Every single one of my tutors whilst I was there inspired me and made me want to learn so much more about the world. Certain parts of the course, especially the many media analysis techniques we covered in detail, have helped me be able to deal with the highly politically charged atmosphere that I work in. I feel that I now question things in a completely different way which help me gain a better understanding of situations I am faced with. I can't praise the course tutors enough for all that they did and all that they helped me learn and achieve.
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