Oxford

MEDIA + JOURNALISM
MEDIA + JOURNALISM
CHARLIE TALBOT-SMITH
Content Editor – Sportsbeat
Charlie studied Modern
Languages at St. Edmund Hall,
2010.
WHAT: I am the content editor for
Sportsbeat, one of the UK’s largest
providers of print, online and broadcast
sports content. A major part of my job
is interviewing sports personalities
and writing news and features for
the agency’s clients. We work with all
national and regional papers, leading
sponsors and organisations including
the FA, Rugby Football Union and British
Olympic Association.
WHY: I would certainly recommend a job in
journalism. Covering major global events
is a thrill that never gets old. In my first year
I was lucky enough to report the London
2012 Olympics and it was a baptism of
fire. I have since covered football, cricket
and rugby (world cups & tours) and tennis
at Wimbledon: I will be going to the Rio
Olympics next year.
ADVICE: At University I wish I’d known the
importance of work experience. It is never
too early to get experience and those
contacts could come in very handy later
on. Start small – contact local publications,
hospital radio, student media – where you
are actually writing rather than making tea.
I’m now often responsible for aspiring
journalists who come in on work
ALUMNI PROFILES
placements. I like people who
contribute and get involved rather than
sit back and expect to be tasked. Be
confident and keen but not too pushy.
TOP TIPS: Don’t just send a generic
email to the newsdesk: take time to
contact the organisation and find the
relevant person. Tell them what you
have to offer – eg, do you know the
subject well? Do you already have
story ideas?
Consider getting qualified. I completed
my NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at
News Associates and found it provided
me with all the practical foundation
skills I needed – things like media law,
shorthand and reporting are vital. You
don’t get hired without them.
ALUMNI PROFILES
LAURA SILVERMAN
Features Editor, Living –
Telegraph Media Group
To be a great journalist you’ll need to
love words, as well as stories, social
media and the internet. You’ll need
commitment and talent, but also luck.
WHAT: I look after the lifestyle
supplement of The Sunday Telegraph
and have recently launched a section
on the website aimed at the young
and affluent retired. Both jobs involve
editing, commissioning and writing, as
well as a lot of production. The days of
large teams have gone, and everyone
is expected to be able to be an allrounder.
Even editors tweet and look
for pictures.
CAREER PATHS: Don’t worry too
much about your title. The traditional
career path was ‘editorial assistant’,
‘writer’, ‘section editor’, ‘deputy editor’,’
editor’. I actually started as a graduate
trainee at the Daily Mail and became
a sub-editor. Now you might begin
anywhere: reporter, researcher, online
writer, content editor or search engine
optimisation (SEO) assistant! Show
enthusiasm on any placements and be
willing to do jobs other are reluctant to do
– it will pay off.
ADVICE: When I’m hiring, I look for early
enthusiasm for the media. So take any
opportunities while you’re at Oxford to
write for OxStu, The Cherwell or Isis and
to do work experience in the vac. Lots of
publications rely on graduates to help with
social media and spot stories, so if you
know your way around Twitter and relevant
blogs then you will be in demand.
I would recommend a nine-month
postgraduate course, such as City (where
I went) or Cardiff, for the basics of news
writing and web publishing. The best route
in, though, is through internships. Aim for a
publication or topic you love and don’t let it
out of your sight – even if it takes a while to
get there.
TOP TIP: To make a real impression, come
armed with ideas by looking at which
stories have been doing well on their
website.
Laura studied Philosophy &
Theology at Oriel College,
2003.
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