Digital Journalist Apprentice Review

I work at BBC Radio Solent with their digital team. I share the role of running our twitter, facebook and instagram and aiming to keep reach as maximum as possible. I do this responsibility most of the time through sourcing stories in the area, going out and filming and interviewing and then producing a video. Other tasks including putting out what has been done on the radio onto our social media via the use of audiograms and also keeping people up to date with the news. This is what my typical week would look like!

I have learnt many new skills. Through the apprenticeship I'm working towards my Level 3 NCTJ which will be greatly beneficial once my apprenticeship is done as much as it helps now! It will help me especially when I travel around the company and being knowledgeable on interchangeable skills such as reporting on courts to learning how to make tv packages. The apprenticeship has also allowed me to go on a number of courses to widen my knowledge in the industry. This included learning about radio and how to make radio packages to being able to confidently use the software we use to edit videos. We were able to travel for these and learn from the most senior journalists. Through work itself, I have also learned valuable skills such as working in a team and pitching ideas. Alongside editing, interviewing and learning these skills on the job!

I thoroughly enjoy the programme. I have met many great people along the way, from those at work to my line managers and the other apprenticeships. I have been able to learn on the job and feel like I'm really making a difference and seeing my work goes public makes it even better. Through my team and my managers alongside the external courses I have loved it.

The organisation is great they have done this especially through lines of communication. I have at work a buddy who is a former apprentices who helps me navigate my way, meet new people and relate to what Im going through. I also have a mentor who is often a senior journalist, who I communicate to weekly and gives me great support in my work and making it the best it can be - they are someone you learn a lot from. I also have my manager at work and my line manager. We have weekly catchups with both to assess my progress and how im doing in myself. We do a lot of training round the country as well to make sure we are flexible such as tv, radio and Video - this has helped my knowledge massively. We also had a great induction week to the BBC as a whole in the mailbox allowing us to make great contacts and understand how vast the help is and the company.

I receive a lot of help from my employer. We have weekly catchups to check on how I'm doing at work, what my goals are and praise for my work. They are also supportive in getting our work out there - we have a page displaying all the apprentices great work which is greatly encouraging. I know there is further support within the BBC as well which I have used and found great help especially in regards to my mental health.

We had a lot of support when at college, our tutors work closely with our managers to make sure our qualifications get the attention needed. We all have a study day dedicated to this. When away from college, work is set regularly along with mock exams which help keep us engaged and see where we need to work on. Along with regular email and call contact with our tutors.

What I am learning through my qualifications helps me in everyday role at work. I am able to put this knowledgable to the test such as when interviewing and recording packages along with reporting when the legal and ethical side comes more into play. I have also learnt more about the industry through the qualification which will allow me to broaden my role in the nursery such as court reporting, I have not done at work but through my qualification I am confident on .

When away for training or at college, there is a lot of socialising outside of work hours, these include quizzes, catch ups and going out to dinner. We have even experienced dinners with top journalists to learn from them in a calm atmosphere. At work there is a lot of classes in the area that the bbc offer at a reduced rate.

Yes

It allows you to work in such a diverse industry that you are able to move around it through what you learn through the apprenticeship. You become multi skilled through the training giving you a lot of confidence alongside learning from some of the best in the industry. You learn on the job!

Be yourself! Talk about your flaws and how you hope the apprenticeship will help this alongside what you're goals and aspirations are. don't forget to mention all the things you have done prior to this, whether that's something big like a past role or school work.