A former postgraduate student has got a job on a Manchester television news channelís breakfast show immediately after finishing his course.

Gordon Newell is a Journalist and Contents Editor for Channel M, a station that delivers news to Greater Manchester, and he reviews the national newspaperís three dayís a week on the channelís breakfast show.

He was offered the job after completing a work placement at the station and continued to work there part-time whilst he finished a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at UCLan.

Gordon said: ìI went live on air on the breakfast show whilst I was on work experience so I jumped straight in with both feet. I feel comfortable in front of the camera even though I was slightly apprehensive at first.î

Now working full-time at Channel M, Gordonís other role as Contents Editor allows him to work behind the scenes.

ìMy job is to find news stories and develop them. Itís a really good way of learning what happens behind the camera and how everything comes together.î

Ideal career

Gordonís colourful career path has led him from army officer to actor to journalist over the last few years but he says he has found his ideal career in journalism.

ìI love working as part of a team and journalism is all about telling a story which is what originally attracted me to acting. Now Iím telling real life stories and I see it as a privilege to be able to do this.î

Gordon says the skills he learnt on the course and from previous careers have now come together and he is looking forward to making the transition from a student to journalist.

He added: ìI know I have been lucky to be offered a job in television so soon after finishing at UCLan. Iíve landed on my feet and I intend to get as much out of it as possible and enjoy the challenge.î

More info
MA Broadcast Journalism
PGDip Broadcast Journalism
Channel M

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