Season 2 finale and new chapters

journo tips, podcasts, supporting regional voices & local journalism

Apr 29, 2021

You can listen to our latest episode here:

Well, well, well, that’s the end of Season 2! In our last episode of the season, we look back on S2 and have a natter, with a special guest appearance from Katie W’s cat, Shelby. This season has really been wonderful to produce and we chatted to so many brilliant guests, so thank you so much to everyone involved and to everyone who has listened and shared. There WILL BE a season 3 and we will be back with some exciting things…but more of that to come later, so stay tuned👀.

Until then we will keep nattering on Twitter, Instagram and here, on the newsletter - so make sure you follow us and we love chatting to you all.

From Katie B…

I started my new job this week, it was great to go into the office to meet my line manager and see the layout of the office 🥰. It’s great to meet new people and get started on new projects!

After reflecting on S2 of the podcast, I’m glad we’re taking a little break. You’ve got to do what works best for you. I always find taking breaks lets your creativity flow. We’re still continuing with our weekly newsletter and you can listen to our latest episode here!

From Katie W…

As we wrap up Season 2 of Northern Natter, it feels like a start of a new chapter. And I can’t say too much about it yet but I might finally be hanging up my waitressing apron for good! It’s been a long 5 years, a lot of hustling and side projects, but now at 26, things are starting to pay off. Since graduating in 2019, I’ve been applying to so many journalism, marketing and copywriting jobs and never even got an interview…until this month. I re-jigged my CV, spent time on it and tailored the cover letter to the jobs. I think along with all the podcasting and freelance work I’ve been doing, I’m catching the employer’s eye. So it does take time. It’s hard to compare yourself when you see people walking into jobs before even graduating or getting that work experience gig - but there is no finish line. Just do what you can and do your best.

Journo tip of the week

Let’s chat confidence at job interviews…

Katie B: Over on our Instagram on Tuesday, we talked about confidence and self belief at job interviews.

Whether it be via Zoom or in person (in the future), here are a few tips to help you increase your confidence.

Assume a power position: Standing up before an interview for 2 minutes and assuming a power pose can really help you to calm your mind and feel confident. Body language and non-verbal cues can really make a difference to your appearance and how you portray yourself. Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk video helps to explain it all in more detail, you can watch it here.
Writing notes: Taking notes and brainstorming can help to get your anxieties out on paper. It’ll help you to be prepared for the interview and focus on the task at hand.
Deep breathing: Mindfulness and lo-fi relaxation music has really helped my mental health over the last few years. Apps like Headspace or Mindful and spotify playlists are good places to start.

Who to follow

Em is a freelance journalist from Staffordshire and a columnist for Mercury Mag.

Steve Holden is a music reporter for BBC Newsbeat.

Salt Magazine is an independent magazine showcasing arts, music & culture from across Greater Manchester.

Dani Cole is a journalist at the Manchester Mill.

NN reacts

Katie W: Shops, cafes and pubs are open again here in Scotland! While I’m still hesitant, I did manage to grab a table for a couple of pints with my boyfriend. It felt good to be out and about for a little bit and I love feeling like I actually have a reason to get dressed again 😂. I even bought some new clothes to celebrate. I’m feeling fancy!

Katie B: Forever thinking about the day I can visit Doe Bakehouse in Harrogate. Look how tasty they look!

Song of the week

Katie W:

Katie B:

Jobs and opportunities:

FREELANCE: Erica from Pop Crush is hiring a freelance writer to cover Monday/Tuesday daytime shifts for the entertainment section.

FREELANCE: Douglas Greenwood has opened his emails to any freelancer with “sparkling ideas” for ID. He’s a contributing editor so if you have any pitches you think will work for ID, run them past him.

FREELANCE: Different Leaf are looking for pitches and freelancers to add to their pool of writers. They pay 50cent per word and cover cannabis culture.

FREELANCE: Buzzfeed Reader are on the hunt for travel pitches - the challenges, the stakes, the workarounds, the logistics. They want stories that explore the concept of travel from any angle. Email pitches to reader.pitches@buzzfeed.com

FREELANCE: Jen Jones is looking for pitches for personal essays (narrative and reported), topical & science-based stories rooted in mindfulness + personal growth as they relate to dating & relationships. Please send queries to jen@lovekeepler.com. £200 for 1,000 words.

FREELANCE: Culturally Modified are looking for stories on food and how it intersects with culture. Get in touch at info@culturallymodified.org. Deadline 1st May.

REMOTE: Want to get into publishing? 404 Ink have opened up their publishing internship scheme. The successful applicant will be paid £500 for five core days. This budget includes an additional bank of hours for reading submissions, or other tasks, on a more flexible time that suits (£10/h). Deadline is 31st May.

BBC Schemes: Whether you are a graduate, school leaver or looking for the opportunity to change your career, the BBC’s new talent schemes could kick start your passion into a job that you love. Closing date is Friday 7th May.

EDINBURGH: Edinburgh Live are looking for a reporter with an NCTJ qualification or relevant work experience. Edinburgh Live is part of the Reach PLC group. It is home-based but you are expected to live in or around Edinburgh as you’ll be expected to have knowledge of the city and current affairs.

GLASGOW: Skein Agency are looking for a copywriter but then progress to advertising and there seems to be an emphasis on video content.

DARLINGTON: The Northern Echo are looking for a Senior Content Editor to join their team. NCTJ qualifications required. Closing date 25th May.

NEWCASTLE: The Theatre Royal are recruiting a Marketing and Communications Assistant. £17,821 salary, 32 hours per week. Closing date is 4th May at 12 noon.

NEWCASTLE: Glass Digital are looking for a content executive (copywriter) to join their team, would be responsible for researching and writing bespoke content and SEO, while collaborating with their outreach specialists to create offsite content for digital PR opportunities and campaigns. £18k-22k, dependent on experience, offering optional remote working.

SUNDERLAND: The University of Sunderland are looking for a CRM Marketing Officer to work at their Sunderland campus. £33,797 to £40,322 per annum, full-time position. Closing date is Sunday 9th May.

SHEFFIELD: The University of Sheffield are looking for a university teacher in journalism. Looking for applicants with an undergraduate degree and substantial, recent or current experience in journalism at a senior level; ideally spread over magazines, online, and digital journalism. Salary is £41,526 - £49,553 per annum.

BOLTON: Newsquest are hiring a Chief Reporter for The Oldham Times with a salary of 25k plus bonus. A big part of the job will be immersing yourself in social media to help you tell your stories, develop relationships in your area and discover what it is that gets your community talking.

Good luck if you are applying!

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