UCLan postgrads at the Daily Telegraph

BY STEWART McCULLOUGH

Postgraduate newspaper journalism students spent a day visiting the newsrooms of national dailies The Daily Telegraph and Independent.

Veteran journalist and Independent on Sunday assistant editor David Randall told visitors  that reporting was still one of the best jobs in the world. 

The author of the best selling text book The Universal Journalist said that as well as a love of the written word and a desire to develop their own style reporters had to keep abreast of what’s happening.  “And the only way to do that is read, read, read,” he said.

Independent editor Roger Alton also offered his views on modern journalism, investigative reporting and how to succeed in this tough industry.

The Independent has recruited several former UCLan graduates including crime correspondent Mark Hughes and most recently Kevin Rawlinson.

“It was great meeting and talking to Roger and David  who gave us a real insight of what it takes to become successful reporters,” said diploma student Hannah Upton.  

Fellow student Michael Hill said the trip “really helped us understand what it takes to get into the industry. It was great to be in Roger Alton’s office just before the evening news conference.”

At the Telegraph the group had a lightning tour of the paper’s hub and spoke newsroom and met former head of digital development, Greg Hadfield.

The London trip, which has become a regular for UCLan newspaper journalism  postgrads, was organised by another Fleet Street veteran and senior lecturer in journalism Michael Williams.

“It was a great experience for the students and will help them in their development as future journalists. They also made some very useful contacts,” said Delwyn Swingewood course leader MA/PG Dip Newspaper Journalism.