Let's get you that work placement!
journo tips, podcasts, supporting regional voices & local journalism
We’re a team of two and both work full-time. Our resources are free for everyone to use and we’d love to expand our podcast so we can create lots more creative content for our followers & subscribers. Every donation does really make a difference 💜
From Katie B…
Katie and I had a virtual planning session + catch up and we’ve planned episodes for Series 3 and instagram reels. We even have a provisional launch date for July! It’s super exciting to start emailing guests to feature on the podcast again - I don’t think my love for podcasting will ever go away.
It’s been lovely to reconnect with friends after lockdown, grabbing some food and having a natter (please pardon the pun). After a week of sunshine, we’ve put a gazebo up outside and the veg in our garden is starting to flourish - in the words of Will Smith, it’s [nearly] summertime.
From Katie W…
Ooooh I cannot wait to show you what we’ve been working on behind the scenes - I can tell you will love it. And here’s the best bit I’m not even talking about S3… I mean, I can’t wait for all that to kick off but also this other thing. That I can’t talk about yet. But I want to. Okay I’ll stop now.
In other news, I’m heading away for the weekend to visit my other half’s family, it will be the first time I’d have left the county in a year. I haven’t been out too often since things eased up here and I’m a wee bit nervous. How have you all found getting out and about? I’ve become so used to my little introverted homely routine over the last 12 months.
Might wear my smelly gym gear so people stay away from me.
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Journo tip of the week
Katie B: Lets chat about securing a work placement/internship:
Although graduate recruitment hasn’t bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, it’s positive that the tide is turning. A survey by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) shows that most of the UK’s largest graduate employers have either stabilised or increased their recruitment this year. It does show that your chance of securing a job, work experience or internship with an employer that suits you is still very much present.
Here are three top tips for securing a work placement/internship in the midst of a pandemic:
Showcase your passion through an online portfolio: Websites like contently or portfoliobox are great tools to use to create an online portfolio. Attaching your article bylines, mood boards from creative briefs or photography showcases your passion for your field and will demonstrate enthusiasm for the position you’re applying for and help the recruiter to remember you.
Offer to meet virtually rather than just communicating through email: Approach work experience/internship meetings as you would in a face to face situation. Offer to meet for a virtual coffee or chat rather than just communicating through email. This will offer a more personal touch to the application process and a chance for you to get to know the employer more.
Make appointments with your university careers service: This can be an invaluable way to learn more about the industry you’re interested in. Booking an initial appointment to see how your careers service can help you is a great way to secure a work placement or internship while at university and can help with staying up to date with the news and employers in your chosen sector. Most universities offer this service for up to 3 years after you graduate too and offer webinars, networking events and opportunities to connect with industry professionals.
You can get more tips on how to make the most of your placement here:
Who to follow
Meg Hughes - Irish youtuber and social media queen
Joseph Anderson - politics reporter for Edinburgh Evening News
Sabeena Akhtar - author of ‘cut from the same cloth’ and writer
Nels Hylton - producer and radio presenter
NN reacts
Katie W: Breakfast ON A PIZZA??? Now maybe we’re missing a tattie scone but when would you eat it? Dinner or breaky? Asda, u okay?
Katie B: I love that someone thought this was a new exotic bird, it’s a seagull that fell into a tub of curry 😂
Song of the week
Katie W:
Katie B:
Jobs and opportunities
FREELANCE: Aasma Day, the ipaper’s new northern reporter is looking for ‘interesting stories from powerful human interest tales to wrongdoings that need investigating & inequalities + injustices that need highlighting. Email aasma.day@inews.co.uk with your pitch.
FREELANCE: Esther Newman is looking for pitches, especially keen to hear about exciting, indie, Black-owned, female-run and sustainable brands, and clean, vegan and cruelty-free beauty. Pitch to esther.newman@vice.com
FREELANCE: Beth Kirkbride is looking for creatives working in a field relating to audio, music, film, games/animation, web or VFX. She would love to hear from you for an upcoming series - email b.kirkbride@sae.edu for more details.
FREELANCE: Increment are looking for pitches on the topic of software-related planning, rates are $1/word. Right now, they’re especially interested in pitches on the following topics: planning, develop advocacy, infrastructure, machine learning and data science.
FREELANCE: RealTalkBlog are open for written submissions. They encourage a wide range of topics from education and motivation, lifestyle and culture or coverage of current affairs. Get in touch via their website ‘therealtalkblog.com’.
FREELANCE: Vice are looking for pitches at the moment, email culture.pitches@vice.com.
FREELANCE: Stacey Lastoe is looking for experienced health writers for pitches. $300 starting fee, but she says it would increase depending on the work involved. Email staceylastoe@gmail.com for more details.
FREELANCE: ItsFreezingInLA have put a callout for submissions for their 8th issue. They’re looking for essays, opinion, reviews, features and slow journalism on the topic of ‘borders’. Send pitches to editor@itsfreezinginla.com by 17th June.
FREELANCE: Amy Hunt is commissioning articles for Woman and Home. Email your pitch to amy.hunt@futurenet.com.
REMOTE: Student Beans, sister company Voxburner are recruiting a content editor. They are looking for someone who has 2+ years’ experience in a content editor/marketing role, has excellent research skills, a creative mind, understanding of the youth marketing industry and a proactive and tenacious attitude.
DUNDEE: DC Thomson Media are looking for a local democracy reporter to get to the heart of local government in Angus and Dundee. This is a full time role, working 35 hours per week based in their Meadowside Office. They are looking for applicants with NQJ and 100wpm shorthand. Closing date is 21st June.
DUNDEE: Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration are hiring three reporters, two temporary full time jobs and one, permanent role. Salary is £40,284 – £44,034; closing date is 17th June.
CLYDEBANK: Ascensos are hiring a social media community advisor. Salary of £20-24k a year. Through engagement and reporting, you will help manage issues and brand reputation and work across a range of channels including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. This role is a full-time permanent position, on a shift basis between 7am and 11pm - so flexibility will be key.
GLASGOW: Masters in Mind Ltd are looking for a graduate journalist to join their team. You’ll be passionate about the English language and fanatical about grammar, have an interest in personal growth, development and business and be an excellent communicator. You should have excellent organisation skills, an attention to detail and the ability to write B2B communications (under the guidance of their marketing specialist). This role is a hybrid remote/office based role. Salary is £20-22k.
GLASGOW: NewsUK are hiring an online news journalist to join their team. The Scottish Sun Online is looking to recruit a permanent online news journalist and will be responsible for developing + executing content across their digital platform - including news, social media and radio. Closing date is 18th June.
EDINBURGH: The University of Edinburgh are hiring a writer in residence. £28,331 - £32,816 pro rata salary, 14 hours a week (part time) on a 2 year fixed term basis, starting in September 2021. The appointee will be a published writer of poetry or prose fiction with demonstrable ability to engage with a varied cohort of talented and demanding students. They will also have demonstrable organisational skills, as well as established connections in the professional literary world in Edinburgh, central Scotland or beyond.
INVERNESS: Inverness Courier and Highland News are hiring a senior reporter. They are looking for a journalist with a great news sense who hits every deadline and can meet quality standards, both in print and online. Role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work for a company that continues to invest in journalism. Weekly working patterns will include weekends. Send your full CV by 25th June to andy.dixon@hnmedia.co.uk
DARLINGTON: The Northern Echo are recruiting for a local democracy reporter to work on lead coverage of Darlington Council and Durham County Council. Shorthand and a formal qualification in journalism are essential for the role, as is a driving licence and access to a car. Closing date is 25th June. Email group editor Karl Holbrook at karl.holbrook@newsquest.co.uk with a CV and a brief covering letter.
NEWCASTLE: St Cuthberts Care are looking for a marketing and communications officer. Salary is £25k a year, full time/permanent job, supporting every aspect of the charity’s marketing requirements including: copywriting and in-house publications, social media and digital output, press-release oversight and event management. Full driving licence is essential. Closing date is 18th June.
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle University are hiring a research & information officer to join its advancement team during an exciting period in its development. The main purpose of this role is to lead and manage a programme of research and information management to maximise the efficiency and impact of their fundraising and alumni programmes. Salary is £25,941 per annum, closing date is 21st June.
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle University are hiring a lecturer in marketing. Salary is £35,845 - £44,045 per annum and closing date is Thursday 1st July.
PENRITH: Barrnon Media is looking for a content editor to join its team in the Lake District. This is an exciting opportunity to lead an editorial team, working across print and online platforms to produce a rich offer of breaking news, features, sport and more. Prior experience in a similar role is essential; experience in InDesign would be an advantage. This is a full time role. Send your CV and covering letter to emilyatherton@barrnonmedia.com by 12th July.
Good luck if you are applying!