How a year in Preston got me into media whirlwind
Less than a year after graduating Tomasz Dominiak has gone onto work for the largest publisher of regional daily newspapers in Poland.
Tomasz, who left UCLan in 2006 with an MA International Journalism, works for Polskapresse Publishing Group who owns eight of the regional daily newspapers in the country.
He said: ìI am working on a new daily paper project, which is due to be launched this autumn. It will be probably the last quality newspaper debut in Poland in the years to come. Itís a great challenge and a chance for me to develop further.î
Prior to being offered the job at Polskapresse, on his return to Poland Tomasz was immediately hired as a Business Journalist on Polish national newspaper Dziennik.
Exclusive interview
ìI started to specialise in transport related topics and in February 2007 I got an exclusive interview with Ryanairís Chief Executive Michael OíLeary at the airline headquarters in Dublin.î
Tomasz is no stranger to interviewing high profile figures. Before coming to UCLan he worked on Polandís biggest quality newspaper and also used his time in Preston to gain as much experience as possible within the British media.
ìApart from my time at the library, lectures and seminars, this study break turned into an intensive year long placement. I freelanced for a coupe of print media in Poland, mostly covering one topic ñ the so-called Polish plumber from the UK perspectiveî Tomasz said.
The timing of Tomaszís visit to Preston was also helpful.
ìThere was an influx of Poles into the UK labour market with social, economic and others aspects of the issue to be explained and described for readers in Poland. Extending my interest beyond print media, I got an internship at the BBC in Manchester, which eventually helped me to air a news package on a Polish national television channel during prime time. The topic of my item was, not surprisingly, Polish workers in Blackpool.î
Tomaszís contacts within the BBC proved to be useful and he even managed to secure an interview with the Corporationís former Director General, Greg Dyke.
He commented: ìLong hours of studying and lectures about global media during the course helped me a lot in rising to the challenge of talking to one the most influential figures in British media.î
Having got more than just a qualification from his time in Preston, Tomasz said he would recommend the course to others.
He added: ìI would recommend studying at UCLan to anyone seriously interested in journalism, which I guess is a statement you would expect from a graduate. However, what you wouldn’t expect is my story, which I hope clarifies why I am so enthusiastic about it.î
More info
MA International Journalism BA (Hons) International Journalism Polskapresse Publishing Group
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Our print and broadcast courses are accredited by the The Broadcast Journalism Training Council and the National Council for the Training of Journalists. Our MA Magazine Journalism is accredited by the Periodicals Training Council.
