Alongside my studies at university, I have actively pursued various journalistic opportunities to gain firsthand experience in real newsroom environments, learning invaluable skills from seasoned industry professionals. I've had the privilege of working across both TV and radio for respected broadcasting companies, covering notable stories and events; including the 2024 general election. 

I had the privilege of working my first freelancing shift for the BBC as a 'Stringer' during the 2024 election night. I was stationed at the Stockton North and Stockton West counts, where my responsibilities included monitoring turnout figures and candidate results, which I promptly relayed to the BBC using a dedicated contact line. Additionally, I was provided with an iPhone and tripod to live stream the count for the BBC's 'Camera at Every Count' project, which was available for viewers on the BBC iplayer throughout the night.

The night was long but incredibly exhilarating. It was an honour to be part of such a significant event in British politics, and a fantastic opportunity for me, as a journalism student, to contribute to such an esteemed organisation like the BBC.

During this event, I also contributed to the Vote 24 Radio Programme for Live Radio. Since then, receiving a silver certificate for the General Election coverage at the Community Radio Awards. 

I completed a one-week placement at Bauer Media Group, where I contributed to stories for both Greatest Hits Radio and Hits Radio. During this experience, I had the privilege of shadowing their senior reporter, Katie Lyons, travelling across West Yorkshire to gather Vox pops and conduct interviews for local stories. A particular highlight was attending my first press conference at Headingley Stadium, where Leeds Rhinos announced the appointment of their new sporting director, Ian Blease. 

Additionally, I independently collected Vox pops in Leeds city centre, capturing public onions on the Euros. My responsibilities also included monitoring local news output and reviewing press releases. I had the opportunity to create my own news bulletins, writing copy and supporting it with interviews and audio that I edited using Burli. 

From this work experience, it has allowed me to go back to do voice training and bulletin practice, leading me to gain regular shifts on the weekends as a news-reader on Hits and Greatest Hits Radio. 

I had the opportunity to further develop my radio journalism skills during my placement at Global Radio, where I spent a week in their Leeds office working on hourly bulletins for Capital FM and Heart FM. This experience allowed me to shadow their senior newsreaders and journalists as they secured interviews and crafted compelling storylines. 

I gained valuable insight into tailoring news bulletins to suit the targeted demographic and honed my radio production skills by editing interviews and audio using Burli. A key highlight was independently securing and scheduling an interview with the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. I edited and constructed multiple copies of the interview, which were eventually aired on the upcoming weekend.

This placement occurred over a significant news week, particularly in the wake of the Southport incident, which allowed me to reach out to contacts and assist with interviews covering this important story. Additionally, with the Olympics in full swing at this time, I contributed towards ideas for stories which focused on Yorkshire-based athletes, including Harry Hepworth and Keely Hodgkinson, celebrating their achievements. 

I have recently completed a two-day work experience placement at ITV Calendar in their Leeds studio, where I had the opportunity to shadow various roles within a regional newsroom. This immersive experience allowed me to engage directly with presenters, reporters, producers, and production journalists. I collaborated with seasoned professionals, including Victoria Whittam, to develop OOV Acts and scripts, as well as editing archive footage that eventually made it to air on Good Morning Britain. Additionally, I worked alongside production journalists to create and edit articles that were published on the ITV Calendar website.

One of the highlights of my time there was alternating between the studio and gallery during live news broadcasts, witnessing firsthand how producers, presenters, and gallery operators make rapid decisions to ensure the smooth running of the programme. I also had the privilege of working closely with Kerrie Gosney, Calendar's weather presenter, who provided invaluable insights and guidance, enabling me to confidently create my own weather report.