“A combination of the Foundation Degree in Broadcast Journalism and the NCTJ diploma has given me some eye catching qualities in the eyes of employers,” says 25-year-old Scott Edwards who is now a video production journalist for Birmingham Live and the Coventry Telegraph.
After his A Levels at school didn’t go to plan, Scott chose to do the foundation degree at college, as an alternative way of getting into his dream career.
He added: “Doing the foundation degree really got me back on track and knowing I would leave with the same qualification as those doing a three-year BA degree in the same subject at university really gave me something to strive for.
“I also got hands on experience with DSLR and video cameras and video editing programmes which you don’t get on the BA degree as it’s more theoretical than practical. This was invaluable and played a huge factor in me getting my current job.”
Straight after completing his Foundation Degree in 2015, Scott came back to college to do the nine-month NCTJ qualification and, less than two months after completing it, got the role as Birmingham Live’s video production journalist.
Scott said: “The fact I was legally trained and had the desired journalistic qualification, from a college with an award winning reputation for its NCTJ course, combined with the hands-on knowledge of video hardware and software learned on the Foundation Degree, made me perfect for the role, despite having little to no work experience.
“I’m already passing on my knowledge to others as I’ve trained a group of journalists who are now my team members, and am now doing my senior exams within Trinity Mirror and should be a senior video production journalist by the end of 2018.”
