Students debate future of journalism at seminar
Student journalists joined top media professionals at BBC Broadcasting House on Wednesday this week (3 March 2010), where they debated the future of journalism in a progressively digital world and gained tips on how to break the industry, at a seminar organised by charity YouthNet.
Hosted by former BBC broadcaster Martyn Lewis CBE, YouthNet's Founder and Chairman, speakers included Ben Gallop, Head of Interactive and Formula 1 at the BBC, who talked about how the internet has changed the nature of journalism, and David Seymour, former Political Editor of the Daily Mirror, who urged the audience to never forget who you are writing for as a journalist.
Some of the issues raised by students included:
- Will 'disintermediation' occur in the industry - why not cut out the middle man and subscribe directly to the journalists if papers are so expensive to run?
- What opportunities are there for a generation of digital natives coming into an industry populated by digital migrants?
- Will the internet destroy investigative journalism?
- Will student publications continue to be printed, or is online the inevitable progression?
The other speakers were Tom Whipple, Features Writer at the Times, who described how successful freelancing can land you your dream job; Amol Rajan, Assistant Comment Editor at the Independent, who told students to adopt a 'yes' attitude and never miss and opportunity; and James Thornhill, Editor of the National Student, who spoke to the audience about how to set up an independent publication.
Martyn Lewis, said: "This seminar is a great opportunity for students interested in a career in journalism to hear what it's actually like when you leave university, and pick up some of the best advice on how to get ahead.
"It's not an easy climate for young jobseekers at the moment, particularly those who want to work in the media, but events like this are one way we can help."
Journalists from TheSite.org, YouthNet's guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds, also ran a workshop to help the attendees think creatively about putting together stories, demonstrate how to source accurate facts, and how to find spokespeople when writing about issues that affect young people.
More information about the event is available at: www.youthnet.org/mediaandcampaigns/studentjournalistsseminar
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Media Enquiries:
For further media information, images, or to arrange interviews, please contact Gabriella Jozwiak or Kate Walker at YouthNet on 020 7250 5716 or out-of-hours on 07766 660 755. Email media@youthnet.org
Notes to editors
- Run by young people's charity YouthNet, TheSite.org is the online guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds. With over 2,000 articles written by experts and journalists, a series of blogs, podcasts and videos, a bespoke question and answer service (askTheSite) and a thriving online community, TheSite.org is the central place for young people to turn to for sound, straight talking, anonymous advice 24-hours-a-day
- Every month, TheSite.org is visited by over 500,000 unique users, and receives around 800 questions on issues ranging from relationships to advice on housing. Content on TheSite.org is also available on mobile, at TheSite.org/mobile
- YouthNet is the UK's first exclusively online charity and was founded by Martyn Lewis CBE in 1995. It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams, and does this through two award winning websites, TheSite.org and the UK's leading volunteering website, Do-it
- The seminar is a free event organised for university student journalists across the UK – some 50 students travelled to London from Aberdeen, Liverpool, Cardiff and Portsmouth amongst others for the afternoon.