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I agree with almost all of this from @nadinebh_ - I hope she won't mind if I add a few based on my personal experiences when I was getting started in journalism...
This will be a thread but in no particular order... https://twitter.com/nadinebh_/status/1282046697514950657
This will be a thread but in no particular order... https://twitter.com/nadinebh_/status/1282046697514950657
UNWRITTEN RULES
There's a lot that I didn't know coming from a family where no-one had gone to university before.
Networking for jobs was something I didn't realise until quite late was a thing - I'd always just thought you just sent off applications and that was it...
There's a lot that I didn't know coming from a family where no-one had gone to university before.
Networking for jobs was something I didn't realise until quite late was a thing - I'd always just thought you just sent off applications and that was it...
...I found that extremely uncomfortable and felt very "pushy" - it wasn't how I was brought up and I am actually quite shy (less so now).
I was lucky that when I approached people I had generally a supportive response - but I didn't know it was a general thing to do.
I was lucky that when I approached people I had generally a supportive response - but I didn't know it was a general thing to do.
FREELANCING
This (I believe now) set my career back by a few years. I didn't know freelancing was a stepping stone into a career so I steered clear of it.
My mum actively encouraged me to avoid it as she didn't want me to abandon a steady job as a receptionist with no certainty
This (I believe now) set my career back by a few years. I didn't know freelancing was a stepping stone into a career so I steered clear of it.
My mum actively encouraged me to avoid it as she didn't want me to abandon a steady job as a receptionist with no certainty
ACADEMIA
Although I had many hugely positive experiences doing my undergrad in Politics and made a lot of friends and had good social experiences - I was not particularly academic (as opposed to intelligent).
This put me off the idea of doing a post-grad in journalism...
Although I had many hugely positive experiences doing my undergrad in Politics and made a lot of friends and had good social experiences - I was not particularly academic (as opposed to intelligent).
This put me off the idea of doing a post-grad in journalism...
... I was never any good at writing long essays. It's why I now work ina sector where I tell complex stories in three sentences or a 140 character tweet.
It was a huge relief when I did a very practical Broadcast Journalism @CityUniLondon - led by great tutors and I loved it!
It was a huge relief when I did a very practical Broadcast Journalism @CityUniLondon - led by great tutors and I loved it!
IMPOSTER SYNDROME
This is a much bigger thing than a lot of people let on. I applied for my post-grad journalism course the week before the deadline and with hesitation because I felt "people like me" didn't go into journalism...
This is a much bigger thing than a lot of people let on. I applied for my post-grad journalism course the week before the deadline and with hesitation because I felt "people like me" didn't go into journalism...
...I almost ended up following my Dad into Facilities Management because of this (Trivia: I even got my Level 1 Facilities Management qualification).
I applied for City not expecting to get in but figured I'd give it a go and see what happened. I'm so glad I did.
I applied for City not expecting to get in but figured I'd give it a go and see what happened. I'm so glad I did.
MENTORS
This was where I was incredibly lucky and there are a group of people I will be forever grateful to for their help in my early years
Those people helped point me in the right direction and guide me through an industry which was far more fluid than the jobs my family did
This was where I was incredibly lucky and there are a group of people I will be forever grateful to for their help in my early years
Those people helped point me in the right direction and guide me through an industry which was far more fluid than the jobs my family did
ATTITUDES
I've seen various attitudes which are not great at bringing people into journalism.
I had my "Norf" London accent picked at - I was told not to say "warter" instead of "water" and a constant issue with "th"s sounding like "f"s. I had it drummed out of me to fit in.
I've seen various attitudes which are not great at bringing people into journalism.
I had my "Norf" London accent picked at - I was told not to say "warter" instead of "water" and a constant issue with "th"s sounding like "f"s. I had it drummed out of me to fit in.
Over the years I've seen some quite dismissive attitudes to stories that don't fit a certain mould, more "middle class" stories prioritised and heard some quite patronising and snobbish throw away comments in newsrooms.
HOPE
I wanted to end on a positive note - I have seen a rise in consciousness about the class issue since I started in journalism.
There are also far more non-degree route opportunities than when I started out in 2007.
I wanted to end on a positive note - I have seen a rise in consciousness about the class issue since I started in journalism.
There are also far more non-degree route opportunities than when I started out in 2007.
The BBC has always been very supportive when I have asked for time out to (hopefully!) speak to those starting out in journalism.
And we have the fantastic Len Tingle placement at BBC Yorkshire - a dedicated placement for working class journalists with mentoring and support.
And we have the fantastic Len Tingle placement at BBC Yorkshire - a dedicated placement for working class journalists with mentoring and support.
And I try and do my bit where I can to help those starting out.
It's about making sure the ladder is still there for journalists from non-middle class families - especially as many of the opportunities I had to get into the industry (eg; local commercial radio) are shrinking.
It's about making sure the ladder is still there for journalists from non-middle class families - especially as many of the opportunities I had to get into the industry (eg; local commercial radio) are shrinking.
And if this Saturday night semi-ramble/sharing of my experiences has been of use to anyone I'm glad! 
Night all!
Night all!
