Chris Sayer: Journalism BA(Hons) graduate
BA(Hons) Journalism*, 2007-2010
Less than a year after graduating, I'm a staff writer at FRONT magazine and have just been promoted to looking after our features too. It's an incredible first job; I get to meet and interview an amazing array of musicians, sports people and fashion labels. Currently I look after a variety of pages and sections in the magazine, from the At Home With page to Readers' Letters to my Dude Of Sport page, which is all mine! I love the development I've brought it, and the praise it's received. I have to plan the shoot, layout, subject and interview ahead, and seeing it all come together is a massive buzz. I've interviewed tons of people, from body language experts to celebrities like Corey Taylor and Alexisonfire.
A Falmouth graduate edits the magazine and our Fashion Editor is also an ex-Falmouth student! The editor, Joe, interviewed me for the job down in Falmouth, so the Cornish town still plays a massive part in my employment a year after leaving it.
I was encouraged to do work experience throughout the course, and it was great to have a group of lecturers who pushed us to get out there and get experience. I got placements at The Times, Devon Life, Ski & Board, Talkback Thames as well as FRONT. I kept in contact with FRONT, got some freelance work and then became staff. I can't stress enough how important work experience is.
Almost all of the work we did on our course geared us up towards a practical life in journalism. From meeting current journalists in the industry to learning how to pitch to prospective clients, it totally helped with getting me where I am today.
Being based at Tremough was ace. The access to photographic studios for work was very important; when I was pitching ideas to editors, it was very important to display a photographic ability too. These facilities were essential in me finding work, and even my first staff job.
Watch an interview with Chris Sayer at: your.falmouth.ac.uk/chrissayer
*Chris was wrongly listed as a BA(Hons) English graduate in the 2012 prospectus.
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