This is a PowerPoint presentation I use when going into schools to talk about careers in journalism and public relations...

1. Journalism & Public Relations:
your future career?
Beth Whittaker
Viva Communications
www.viva-communications.co.uk

2. It’s all me, me, me…
Started straight from
school…
Trained ‘on the job’ by
the newspaper…
block release college
course covering
newspaper law, public
administration… 100
wpm shorthand
Qualified at 20…

3. Moved from weekly newspapers…
to evening (daily) newspapers…
The Citizen…
Western Daily Press…
Then… ‘headhunted’ by Harrison Cowley PR

4. • Got married, had children
• Went freelance/self employed
• Set up my business Viva Communications Ltd
• Working with my husband –
in the same office!

5. What I love about what I do…
• Something different every day, working on several
different projects at once
• Making a difference to charities, community groups
and organisations
• Helping small businesses communicate more
effectively
• Writing – press releases, website copy, information
• Working closely with other creative people –
photographers, website designers, graphic designers
and printers
• Being my own boss!

6. NATIONAL media: Telegraph, Times Educational Supplement, Guardian,
Independent, BBC Radio 4, BBC TV Countryfile … and local

8. Journalism
• Journalism careers:
– Broadcast: TV and radio
– Magazines
– Newspapers
– Photography/photo journalism
– Sports
– Sub-editing & page design
– Freelancing
– Online

9. Public relations
http://www.cipr.co.uk/content/
policy-resources/about-pr
Chartered Institute of
Public Relations

10. Helpful…
• Nosey/inquisitive
• Confident
• Gets involved/good organiser
• Good English – grammar, spelling
• Great vocabulary
• Happy to talk to anyone…
• Creative, full of ideas
• Passionate about a cause?
• Hard worker… self starter
• Happy to ‘start at the bottom’ and learn

11. Test out your
writing skills
WRITE A BLOG?
… stuff you’re passionate about,
interested in… fashion, sport,
politics, film, music, money (!)
www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/mar/15/how-to-blog-free-book

12. Some ideas…
• Follow journalists/writers on social
media/blogs & engage…
• Look up public relations firms – engage on
social media…
• Work experience…internships
• At uni/college – get involved in student news
• DIY short film/audio/vox pops – report on
local issues?

13. Useful websites
Check out jobs/internships & what qualifications, experience and skills they are
looking for:
• Journalism
– www.journalism.co.uk/media-reporter-jobs/s64/
– http://jobs.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/
– http://jobs.bloomberg.com/content/intern/
– www.gorkanajobs.co.uk/jobs/journalist/intern/
– www.nctj.com/careers/trainee-vacancies
– Local newspapers/radio/TV
• PR
– www.ciprjobs.co.uk/
– Local PR/marketing/advertising agencies

14. Routes…
Straight from school? Distance learning?
Degree?
• National Careers Service:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
• National Council for the Training of Journalists:
www.nctj.com/
• Chartered Institute of Public Relations:
• www.cipr.co.uk/content/careers-cpd/careers-
pr

15. Questions?
Anybody? Hello?
Beth Whittaker - @bw58 on Twitter
www.facebook.com/PRViva