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We're just about to get started with today's @sheffjournalism #jusmasterclass with our alumni @AlexGroveNews and @DSheridanYEP
Both Daniel, who is at @LeedsNews and Alex, from @yorkshirelive, took the @sheffjournalism BA degree
Alex is kicking us off...
He is chief reporter and content editor at Yorkshire Live. His first job started a week after his last exam, at the North West Evening Mail in Cumbria
"It was great to get my feet on the ground there"
He is chief reporter and content editor at Yorkshire Live. His first job started a week after his last exam, at the North West Evening Mail in Cumbria
"It was great to get my feet on the ground there"
Oof, he describes Barrow as "a bit rough" but the patch also included beautiful parts of the Lake District - super varied. A few months in, he was tasked with interviewing the Secretary of State for Defence
Being a 'city boy' at heart, when a job came up at @hulllive in Feb 2017, he took the jump.
"It was a really good newspaper to work on".
The biggest story he worked on was the disappearance of uni student Libby Squire
"It was a really good newspaper to work on".
The biggest story he worked on was the disappearance of uni student Libby Squire
"That was a great thing to be involved in. As a paper, we got a lot of praise as to how he covered the story.
"Because she was a Hull student we had to make sure we covered it sensitively."
"Because she was a Hull student we had to make sure we covered it sensitively."
Unlike the nationals.
Alex went down south to Libby's hometown where he spoke to locals who refused to speak to the nationals because of the way they covered the story.
Alex went down south to Libby's hometown where he spoke to locals who refused to speak to the nationals because of the way they covered the story.
He also covered 'the crossbow killer' - a man who shot his neighbour with a crossbow and went on the run. He covered the story across a weekend. On the Sunday night he wrote the piece for the next day's paper saying he was still on the run...
But at 8pm his body was found- quick re-write needed!
"News changes at a fast pace and you have to be ready to react to that."
"News changes at a fast pace and you have to be ready to react to that."
He also did a high profile piece with a lollypop man accused of grooming kids by high fiving them - the day after his story ran, the nationals were queueing up to speak to him and he was even on This Morning (the lollypop man, not Alex!)
Alex also remembered doing a review of Hull's worst hotel (ranked by tripadvisor) - which was read hundreds of times on facebook.
His role at @yorkshirelive has changed a bit - as content editor he's responsible for things like uploading, headlines etc.
"It's something new for me, which is great - and great for my CV"
"It's something new for me, which is great - and great for my CV"
. @DSheridanYEP now telling his career path.
It took him a while to find his first journo job
"You just have to try and get your foot in."
He came across an ad for a job at @SWNS
It took him a while to find his first journo job
"You just have to try and get your foot in."
He came across an ad for a job at @SWNS
"It was a great job, in terms of feet on the ground journalism. Every single day was completely different.
"It was very full."
The agency acts as a 'middle man' between weeklies and nationals - which meant being sent on jobs by nationals like inquests...
"It was very full."
The agency acts as a 'middle man' between weeklies and nationals - which meant being sent on jobs by nationals like inquests...
But also helping to syndicate weekly stories - providing all the nitty gritty details that may not have been in the local story, but background the nationals wanted
"If you do end up at an agency job, be prepared for very long days. 10/12 hour shifts, travelling across Yorkshire."
He covered Libby Squires too.
He covered Libby Squires too.
He also covered long-running grooming trials - being sent for 30 days to one.
He also covered the inquest of Ann Maguire - a teacher stabbed and killed by a student in Leeds
He worked closely with the press office at Leeds Teaching Hospitals - which led to him getting an exclusive with the first woman to receive a double hand transplant
He also told the story of a video blogger doing make up tutorials using her bionic arms...
"That was a brilliant story, she's since become a charity ambassador," and is now presenting on children's tv
"That was a brilliant story, she's since become a charity ambassador," and is now presenting on children's tv
He was at SWNS for a couple of years before moving to @LeedsNews
It was always something he wanted to aim for. As a live reporter, he manages social media feeds but also makes content
It was always something he wanted to aim for. As a live reporter, he manages social media feeds but also makes content
"On any given day I could be at a crime scene, or making copy for a commission.
"If you have a passion for certain stories, you can get them online and get around ones you don't like doing as much."
"If you have a passion for certain stories, you can get them online and get around ones you don't like doing as much."
One story he covered, was a video of a little boy with a really strong Barnsley accent - viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
"It may seem like a non-story but people love them."
"It may seem like a non-story but people love them."
He also worked on a story that made national headlines during last year's election campaign - which came from an email into the paper - a pic of a little boy asleep on the floor at a Leeds hospital
It snowballed massively with people claiming it was nonsense made up to skew the election BUT it was complexly backed up by the hospital https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/it-was-chaos-shocking-photo-shows-leeds-four-year-old-suspected-pneumonia-forced-sleep-floor-lgi-due-lack-beds-1334909
A lot is picked up on social media - he'll often see Alex chasing the same stories he is, and vice versa!
Back to Alex... He says newsgathering has changed since lockdown
"We had to rely a lot more on social media. Facebook is the biggest tool for me in terms of finding stories. You'll ingratiated yourself into community groups. Hyper local groups are really key to finding stories."
"We had to rely a lot more on social media. Facebook is the biggest tool for me in terms of finding stories. You'll ingratiated yourself into community groups. Hyper local groups are really key to finding stories."
Another top tip from Alex...
"Pick up the phone. I know it's nerve wracking but you'll get the story so much quicker."
"Pick up the phone. I know it's nerve wracking but you'll get the story so much quicker."
He also advises students to get out into patch
"If a reporter comes out and knocks on their doors, it makes them feel valued and that someone is fighting for them. Don't be afraid to get out and door knocking."
"If a reporter comes out and knocks on their doors, it makes them feel valued and that someone is fighting for them. Don't be afraid to get out and door knocking."
Dan also talks about picking up the phone.
"It's something I was a bit nervous of at first too, but you'll always get more from talking to people than email."
"It's something I was a bit nervous of at first too, but you'll always get more from talking to people than email."
Dan also trudges through misconduct hearings for teachers, nurses etc - with a great story picked up last week https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/health/nurse-pinderfields-hospital-banned-profession-after-admitting-she-lied-about-her-qualifications-3033825
Also introduce yourself to everyone - charities, councillors, anyone and everyone! Tell them you're the person to speak to now.
"Always have stuff in the background that you're interested in that you can pitch to your editor.
"It's stuff that you want to work on, stuff you're passionate about." It makes the other stuff easier to deal with
"It's stuff that you want to work on, stuff you're passionate about." It makes the other stuff easier to deal with
He also recommends doing as much work ex as you can.
"It's a thing that editors like."
He did a lot of free work ex for Shoot magazine
"It's a thing that editors like."
He did a lot of free work ex for Shoot magazine
He also recommends having a separate work social media account so you can turn it off at the end of the day.
"You will get trolling and comments. Then you can switch off."
"You will get trolling and comments. Then you can switch off."
Alex agrees.
He also stresses building your contacts.
"Having people to go to in times of need is really helpful."
He also stresses building your contacts.
"Having people to go to in times of need is really helpful."
Alex on door knocks (when there has been a death):
"They are incredibly daunting. Some people don't agree with them, but it's important to give people the chance to pay tribute."
"They are incredibly daunting. Some people don't agree with them, but it's important to give people the chance to pay tribute."
Once, the wife of a man who had died welcomed him in saying, "I wondered when you were going to come".
@AlexGroveNews "When you do a nice tribute it's a really nice feeling to give them a chance to celebrate the person who has passed away."
@AlexGroveNews "When you do a nice tribute it's a really nice feeling to give them a chance to celebrate the person who has passed away."
He also sings the virtues of shorthand - it's so much quicker than trawling through recordings.
Dan on door knocking, which he had to do a lot for @SWNS
"In my first week at the agency, I was sent to Doncaster, absolutely terrified to do my first door knock."
He was welcomed in by the family of a young man who died from dementia. It made all the nationals...
"In my first week at the agency, I was sent to Doncaster, absolutely terrified to do my first door knock."
He was welcomed in by the family of a young man who died from dementia. It made all the nationals...
"It's always the ones that you think are going to be horrendous (that you think won't talk) that welcome you in with open arms."
Dan also recommends thinking digitally - how can you present the story differently for online eg a live blog, gallery, follow ups etc
He also stresses the importance of putting your own opinion aside when it comes to writing stories.
"If you are imparting your opinion through your words then it's totally obvious to your readers - and your editors."
"If you are imparting your opinion through your words then it's totally obvious to your readers - and your editors."
Now we're on to Qs from students:
Nelson asks:
What are the most important attributes to have as a journalist going straight into the industry?
Nelson asks:
What are the most important attributes to have as a journalist going straight into the industry?
Alex says you have to be digitally minded.
"You need to be prepared to do the live blogs, facebook lives... in terms of qualities, you need doggedness. People won't get back to you, they'll forget. "
"You need to be prepared to do the live blogs, facebook lives... in terms of qualities, you need doggedness. People won't get back to you, they'll forget. "
Dan: "You won't believe how much you'll use from the course when you're doing it. My editor couldn't believe I could go to an inquest in my first week. You have a lot of the skills they need already."
Dan: "If you can make a running start and prove you can get on with it, it makes a lot of sense."
Dan also recommends approaching papers with stories and pitching them for a byline
Libby asks about personal social media - Alex says he uses separate accounts. Keep your DMs open.
Dan also keeps his accounts separate.
"Facebook - if you get a story from a person on facebook, add them as a friend, as you might get another story in six months."
"Facebook - if you get a story from a person on facebook, add them as a friend, as you might get another story in six months."
Frazer asks about how to find stories on FB
Alex: "It's just infiltrating those community groups.
"Each area of Sheffield will have hyper local groups. Sometimes I will put a shout out on, but more often it will be picking up comments."
Alex: "It's just infiltrating those community groups.
"Each area of Sheffield will have hyper local groups. Sometimes I will put a shout out on, but more often it will be picking up comments."
Dan: "There's a facebook group for everything. Get in as many as you can."
He's in one that's purely for people who have made man caves and pub sheds during lockdown -
he's picked up "multiple stories" of people with Leeds Utd themed ones etc
he's picked up "multiple stories" of people with Leeds Utd themed ones etc
Georgina asks more about knocks and putting people at ease:
Alex: "Speak softly. You don't want to be in their face." He usually says if they've covered it/or if they've seen it on Facebook...
"Sometimes it's a shock to them. Leave a number so they can call back..."
Alex: "Speak softly. You don't want to be in their face." He usually says if they've covered it/or if they've seen it on Facebook...
"Sometimes it's a shock to them. Leave a number so they can call back..."
"But if it's a flat out no, respect that. They are grieving."
He has often read tributes back to people - but warns not to email copy to people for approval
Dan warns the same, as he worked for an agency who would send copy to nationals, who would then edit it.
"If I can avoid any type of copy approval, I will. If I know my quotes are accurate then I'm happy with that."
"If I can avoid any type of copy approval, I will. If I know my quotes are accurate then I'm happy with that."
"If you're very approachable with people, speak to people as you'd speak to your family. If you go and say it exactly how you feel, it often works much better."
Alex says: "If you don't get them, don't get disheartened. The biggest step is actually going to the door and knocking."
Final Q from Lisa: "How did you survive shorthand?"
Dan: "You're using it all the time. You need it. You won't realise how much until you get a barrister speaking at 200 words a minute."
Dan: "You're using it all the time. You need it. You won't realise how much until you get a barrister speaking at 200 words a minute."
Alex: "When we got to third year, there was a lot of people who realised, 'oh I really need this now'. Going back to it is much harder. Just get it in the bag and get it done."
And that's time up. Big thank you to @AlexGroveNews and @DSheridanYEP - great to see you both and hear such fab top tips!
