Digital Journalist Apprenticeship Review

I am a training digital journalist at a local BBC Radio Station. I work, for the most part, alongside the breakfast team creating content for social media - predominantly facebook. I also write for radio, call and gather guests, go out to record packages and vox pops and lots of other things!

I've learnt so many new skills!! before this apprenticeship I couldn't edit video or audio at all and now I feel very confident doing so. I am growing in confidence with my writing and look forward to getting better.

I love my programme! it's exhausting and difficult when trying to balance work life, college work and still attempt at having some form of social life. However my tram at BBC Radio Cumbria have been an incredible support as have my fellow apprentices which makes all the difference!

I feel very valued, especially at BBC Radio Cumbria. The team are really encouraging and I feel comfortable to ask questions if ever I don't understand anything. What has been really amazing is having people come to me and ask questions as they realise I have a skill set that is new to the radio station. I have lost count of the amount of people I have taught to air-drop off their iphones!

My programme can be a bit chaotic and occasionally last minute. For the most part we have our timetable and generally this is accurate however we can occasionally find we have last minute changes to it. This can result in it being a bit stressful at times, particularly when trying to ensure we get at least one day a week to do college work. I don't mind the travelling so much, but the 3 weeks away straight that we did in November was pretty horrible.

I feel I have a good support network around me. On station my editor and mentor are incredible at making sure I am ok, as are the rest of my team. My scheme manager is always only a phonecall or email away and will bend over backwards to make sure I am ok. However by far the greatest support I have is from my fellow apprentices, no one understands what we're going through quite like we do and whenever I have a down day or a million and one questions they are always there. They've turned into my dysfunctional BBC Family.

I feel I have a good support network around me. On station my editor and mentor are incredible at making sure I am ok, as are the rest of my team. My scheme manager is always only a phonecall or email away and will bend over backwards to make sure I am ok. However by far the greatest support I have is from my fellow apprentices, no one understands what we're going through quite like we do and whenever I have a down day or a million and one questions they are always there. They've turned into my dysfunctional BBC Family.

In all honesty I struggle with my wage. I had to move in order to do this apprenticeship and so attempting to pay rent on an apprenticeship wage is proving interesting... I have also had to buy a lot of equipment that the BBC did not provide in order to do my job well which has set me back a lot of money. Most months I scrape by ok.

Our scheme manager creates lots of opportunities for us, especially whilst away travelling.

Yes

Because there are few jobs in the world where you can wake up and every day is a different adventure. Working for this prestigious company gives me the greatest honour in the world and I am immensely pleased to work for this amazing company.

Throw yourself into it 100%. The BBC aren't looking for the finished product, they just want energy, enthusiasm, creativity and most importantly for you to be yourself!!