Digital Journalism Apprentice Review

My role consists of working at BBC Breakfast on the social media team. On a day to day basis this includes editing videos and creating social content. I will be editing social media content and I will be scheduling tweets. I work in a team of 3 people and I am relied on and trusted to do tasks. I also have opportunities to go out filming and opportunities to create and put forward my own content.

I have learnt new skills. I have become very familiar with editing and using editing software such as Final Cut Pro. I have boosted my skills on photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. I am also working to gaining my NCTJ qualification which will help me massively as a journalist.

I really enjoy my programme. Compared to where I was last year I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime. I work with people who are complete professionals at what they do and being in this environment at my age and with my experience levels is amazing. I learn so much and have met the most amazing people.

The programme is structured well and it is very thought out. That is due to the excellent planning of our managers, such as when we have training weeks. They always go above and beyond for us and the level of planning that goes into everything just furthers the idea that we are in a very professional enviroment.

The support at the BBC feels like it its there if I need it. Especially from the management staff on the apprenticeship. There have been times where I have been struggling and the manager has picked up on it and I have been offered support, that is something that makes you feel really valued.

The training provider at Wolverhampton college can be very inconsistent. I feel like the support and planning there can be very poor and there is no room for creative learning. I feel like there was a lack of individual support and sometimes I felt like the teaching was like being in high school again and I was being spoken to like a child rather than a Adult, I felt as if I wasn't respected by certain members of staff.

I feel like the qualification does help in certain aspects such as my writing in journalism. However sometimes I feel like the NCTJ qualification is a bit out dated and some of the skills that I am learning are not actually going to help me in my role. For example I am working on a social media team and I am not being taught them skills at the college.

There are individual events within my department that I feel I could take part in, there is also a lot that you can take part in externally and I feel that I am always available to take up new opportunities and try new stuff however I would like to see these promoted a bit more.

Yes

Because I have been made to feel like I fit in here and I have learnt a lot. I feel I have grown as a person and that no one has doubted me regardless of my age or lack of experience, also the opportunities that I have been given have been amazing.

Any tips or advice that I would give to someone would be to be yourself, and believe in yourself. You need to promote all of your strengths and show yourself off. Do not doubt yourself, you are doing this for you and not for anyone else. Take the chance and give it your best.