It is my ambition to host and present my own documentaries for a top broadcasting channel or streaming service. It is my ambition to become a radio presenter for a top UK radio station.

On this page I will describe in what ways I can improve my abilities as a broadcast journalist and overall journalistic skills. Developing myself constantly will ensure I am employable and allow me to achieve my short-term and long-term goals. I began the Journalism course at Napier with adequate technical abilities but very little knowledge of news writing techniques or a fully developed writing or presenting style.

Writing Skills - I am confident in my writing techniques and have the ability to write fluent pieces of hard news for both print and online. Versatile in my writing style, I can adapt my work for culture, lifestyle, and politics and feel most assured in my opinion pieces, as I fall naturally into a more informal, sometimes humourous, personal and creative style of writing.

An area I’d like to continue to develoop is within my sports journalism. Although I don’t plan on going solely into this domain of work, it is a subject area I love and enjoy reading and listening to. Ultimately this will help to improve my all-round journalistic skills. To further this specific area of work I will seek out feedback on articles I have previously written for older blogs. It is a subject area that could come up as an opportunity at any moment in my career and so I wish to be versatile enough to immediately step into cover this. Even more so, it is an area I would one day love to experience, as sport has been a major part of my life growing up and even intomy young adult years, being President of my university Hockey team.

Though written journalism is not my favoured area the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) run distance learning courses that can be picked up at any point in my career, even just as a refresher.

Presenting Abilities - Love on camera presenting especially live broadcasts, documentary filming and radio hosting. The adrenaline of live programs is a pressure I thrive under. I enjoy interviewing and feel I have started to perfect the way in which I do this (however, I am very aware of how this is still yet to further grow and be developed post graduation). I have written powerful scripts for documentaries and feel I have constructed fact-heavy news reports for both live TV and radio with a balance of being non biased whilst also fairly relational as I communicate. I have spent much time hosting more relaxed conversational podcast and radio shows that hold debates and discussions surrounding both entertaining and more serious topics. Being able to retain an audience and keep the shows captivating while also guiding the flow of the conversation when interviewing guests is something I have loved learning and perfecting over the last handful of years.

Again, I can improve these areas further by simply listening back to old recordings of myself, as well as tuning into more radio and TV, in order to gauge and assess the flow and professionalism that I will need to obtain if I wish to get to that same level. It is important that I continually take note of what is required of a top-level presenter, including the manner in which the best broadcasters conduct themselves so that I can match this in my own work.

Software - As mentioned previously, I was already fairly comfortable in all things tech before starting university, but I have rapidly mastered new software tools (all of which can be found on the ‘About Me’ page) and have become completely comfortable in the way they operate, to the point that I can confidently say that I work efficiently and quickly on such software.

However, the standard I need to perform at after graduating is yet to be uncovered and I am very aware my work and performance level will need to continuously be upped. Of course, I have four years experience tucked under my belt - perhaps more than some others applying for the jobs I wish to get into - but I also know that if I am to secure the jobs that I want I will need to keep working hard at the programs I have learnt in order to maintain a level of understanding. I cannot let my speed or skill on such programs slip if my goal is set on places that require such skills.

Digital Platforms - Ahhh yes, Social Media! You can find all the places I have proven my skill in this area on the ‘Portfolio’ page. but it takes more than an eye for aesthetics and design to create a growing and impactful digital platform.

Able to generate content for online publications (Impulse, YuTu, ENRG, DukeOfEd.com). Proficient in coding and building websites to a high standard with accompanying social media sites. Incredibly confident in using and navigating social media, as well as making engaging content for these channels. I have a clear understanding of how to alter content for different audiences, as well as comprehension of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

There are thousands of studies into online algorithms but to be completely candid I have only done light research into this area. It’s not something we are taught at university yet but this area can no longer just be a side hustle or hobby. I must bring together academic research on the matter if I am to be helpful to employers. I am aware of the strengths my generation will hold in the work place - in this area specifically - therefore I must understand what will be required of me, and demonstrate a complete understanding of digital platforms and their benefits. Then the impact in audience reach for companies and media outlets could be revolutionary.

Language and personality - I am an enthusiastic and incredibly outgoing individual who loves working alongside a team, especially having the opportunity to lead the team. I build strong working relationships and deem them highly important. My people skills and emotional intelligence have allowed me to reach people and I firmly believe I would find it beneficial to re-visit my days as an Outward Bound instructor, where I spent several years perfecting my communication skills to lead and teach children and young adults. Though this is not the same as journalism, but the leadership skills do crossover and what I have picked up there I know would benefit me in another career path entirely.