Journalist's degree choices - a snapshot of 75 leading hacks

Really interesting blog at http://www.uptospeedjournalism.com/ about the degree choices of Britain's leading journalists.

History

Andrew Rawnsley, Cambridge
Matt Frei with Spanish, Oxford
Rageh Omar, Oxford
Dermot Murnagahan, Sussex
Tom Bradby, Edinburgh
Jeremy Bowen, UCL

Economics/PPE/Politics

Evan Davies(PPE), Oxford
Katie Derham, Economics, Cambridge
Justin Webb Economics, LSE
Carl Dinnen, Social and Political Science, Cambridge
Zeinab Badawi(PPE), Oxford
Ben Brown(PPE), Oxford
Michael Crick PPE, Oxford
David Dimbleby(PPE), Oxford
Krishnan Guru-Murthy(PPE), Oxford
Robert Peston PPE, Oxford
Nick Robinson(PPE), Oxford
James Robbins(PPE), Oxford
Jeff Randall, Economics, Nottingham
Liam Halligan, Economics, Warwick and Oxford
Jane Hill, Politics, London
George Alagiah, Politics, Durham
Peter Sissons(PPE), Oxford
Will Lewis, Politics and Economics, Bristol

Philosophy

Conor McNicholas, Manchester
Will Self, Oxford
Modern Languages
Kate Adie, Newcastle
Rebekah Wade, Sorbonne
Frank Gardner, Exeter,
Kevin Bakhurst, Cambridge
Fiona Bruce, Oxford,
Bridget Kendall, Oxford
Huw Edwards, Cardiff
Dani Sinha, Bristol
Brigid Nzekwu, London
Caroline Hawley, Oxford
Sophie Raworth, Manchester,
Joanna Gosling, Birmingham

Sciences

Lawrence McGinty, Liverpool
David Attenborough, Cambridge
George Monbiot, Oxford
Susan Watts, Imperial, Physics,
Sarah Montague, Bristol Biology

Classics

Martha Kearney, Oxford
Boris Johnson, Oxford

Geography

Anna Botting, Oxford
David Shukman, Durham
Psychology
Jim Gray, Stirling
Kate Silverton, Durham

Law

Gaby Logan, Durham
Andrea Catherwood, Manchester

Media and Comms

Richard Bilton, Birmingham City University

Those NCTJ's are looking like a colossal waste of money...

FMAS Focus

Wilks appointed chief consultant Senior lecturer in visual arts, Tim Wilks, has been appointed chief consultant for a major event which is scheduled to appear at the National Portrait Gallery in 2012. The exhibition celebrates the 400th anniversary of the death of Henry, Prince of Wales. Wilks, who wrote ‘Prince Henry Revived’, a book that focussed upon the cultural icon, will oversee the content and structure of the exhibition alongside an advisory committee.

This is my Land Andrew Cross, a lecturer in Photography, presented his screening programme, ‘This Is My Land’ alongside other internationally acclaimed artists at the Artsway visual arts venue in the New Forest in late August. The programme highlighted various aspects and sensations of rural life, and in particular how land is utilised, exploited and managed by human endeavour. Find out more about the event at http://www.artsway.org.uk/

Art research to be funded The intensive programme ‘Towards Creative Entrepreneurship’ has been approved by colleagues at Lahti, (University of Applied Sciences) and will receive funding. The aim of the project is to find new, innovative ways to promote entrepreneurship on arts courses at universities. Other partners in the project include the Cork Institute of Technology, the Estonian Academy of Music, and the Norwegian Academy of Music. There is funding in the budget for five students from Solent University to participate as well as one member of staff.

Filmmakers opportunities Lightstream TV, a business that produces professional short-format video adverts online, is in need of filmmakers to join their freelance network. It’s an excellent opportunity for students and experienced filmmakers alike to earn money, and develop their portfolio whilst shooting and editing video. For more information visit www.lightstream.tv/producers/join

The Big Draw The Millais Gallery and Solent University are hosting The Big Draw event on October 10, as part of a month long, nationwide campaign for drawing. The event invites people of all ages and artistic abilities to help create a huge panoramic drawing, with help from the resident lecturers/artists. The free event will take place in the gallery between 10am-1pm.

The Siege International bestselling author Helen Dunmore talked about her novel ‘The Siege’ at the Northguild Lecture Theatre in the Civic Centre on Tuesday September 29. Helen spoke about her story of love, life and survival during the German siege of Leningrad in World War 2, before participating in a Q&A session and book signing.

Framing Film The University of Winchester’s School of Film and Media staged the ‘framing film’ International Film Conference between the 4-6 September. The event was attended by film students from Solent University. Keynote speakers included Professor Ian Christie from the University of London and Peter Webber, the director of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’.

Flynn high Adam Cominskey has been named a commercial director at Flynn Productions, an original and creative film making company. This will enhance links between the company and the university, and create opportunities for students to work on live projects. To find out more visit http://www.flynnproductions.com/

Alan’s art Alan Schechner’s artwork will appear in two academic publications from Sydney and Hamburg respectively. His piece, ‘It’s the real thing – Self portrait at Buchenwald’, will appear in ‘Law Text Culture’ and Professor Susan Rohr’s book ‘Comedy - Avant-Garde - Scandal: Remembering the Holocaust after the End of History’.

Simple for Simon Multimedia technician Simon Griggs has completed his ACA exams in Adobe Photoshop CS4 and is now an Adobe Certified Associate.

Digidesign for life Solent is now a Digidesign Certified Training Location, allowing the University to teach students the Pro Tools 101, 110, 201, and 210 courses. Toni Diaz and Jon JB Wills from the Media Production department passed the necessary courses, which have also provided the University with up to date software to teach on.

No Looking Barry Davies, a former student at Solent University, will be presenting his ‘No Looking’ exhibition at the Millenium Arts Centre in Cardiff. ‘No Looking’ is a collection of new and old post conceptual surrealist artworks by the Welsh Artist, performer and film maker. The work of Davies stems from his interest in perceptions of reality, he’s interested in the use of irony and hyperbole and in using materials, objects and processes in which to explore these ideas.

Relentless Brighton Brighton-based videogames developer Relentless Software recently visited the university for the Solent Jobs Fair in March, and the company’s Art Director Ben Lee met with students and discussed social gaming. Lee was ‘extremely impressed’ with the quality of junior animators and is keen to maintain a link between Solent and Relentless Software. It’s likely the company will be finalising details for a new project soon and as a result will be recruiting junior artists and animators.

Buckley’s Odyssey More than a quarter of a century ago Solent journalism lecturer Martin Buckley embarked on a trip to South Asia, travelling across Sri Lanka and India. During his time there, Martin discovered Ramayana – Valmiki’s epic written around 500-700 BC (much the same as Homer’s Odyssey, hence the title). Despite being relatively unknown in the West, Ramayana – The Wanderings of Rama – which tell the story of Lord Rama's search for his kidnapped wife – have achieved the status of holy writ. Buckley’s compelling recreation of Rama’s journey by bus, train, plane, and motor bike is inspiring and thought provoking. The book can be purchased for £8.99 from all leading book stores.

(Focus on FMAS newsletter, 2009)

Pew36 team up with Hey Negrita for zombie video

The animation studio Pew36, which was set up by Adam Cominskey, have joined Flynn Productions for music video representation, following the release of their zombie-themed video for Hey Negrita’s ‘One Mississippi’. Pew36 have created videos for the likes of Hundred Reasons and Jay Haze, and most of the team teaches on the animation degree at Solent University. The latest project features a fully animated promo trilogy for UK-based country band Hey Negrita, and the first features a low-fi battle with zombies. The films will be released alongside the band’s new album, ‘Burn the Whole Place Down’.

“All three videos needed to stand up to being videos in their own right and yet still work as a 12-minute whole. Other than wanting the band to be in it, we pretty much had blue sky on this," said Comiskey.

"We really liked the idea of making a computer-generated movie that looked like it was a low budget, live action film. We employed several live-action cost-cutting techniques and recreated them in the digital realm. It was important that it felt like a bunch of mates who had borrowed a couple of cameras, lights and shot it in their dad's garage."

Because the majority of Pew36’s staff teaches at Solent, the progress of the project can be archived and used as an excellent case study for teaching material.

(Focus on FMAS newsletter, 2009)

Black and Gold

To coincide with the BP Portrait Award and Black History Month in October, Southampton City Council’s Arts & Heritage have collaborated with the Stronger Communities & Equalities Team to commission three recent graduates of Southampton Solent University’s BA (Hons) Photography course; Fang Gleizes, Sarah Shaughnessy and Iain Anderson to take a series of photographic portraits.

Black History Month 2009 has been dedicated to the concept of Heroes and the Black Gold portrait exhibition was conceived as a way of recognising individuals of an African/Caribbean background as exemplars of good work.

This collection of photographs brings to the fore, individuals of an Afro-Caribbean background connected to Southampton who play a significant role in our society and have achieved, either as pioneers, explorers, campaigners, international figures or simply by just being the first.

Private View: Wednesday 30th September 2009 6.00 – 8.00pm. All welcome.

(Focus on FMAS newsletter, 2009)

Julie is CIH Student Representative

Julie-Watson-Cowen studied for her Housing Diploma at Southampton Solent and has since been appointed as student representative with CIH South East. Julie’s current post is Housing Enabling Officer at Havant Borough Council – and she ensures that affordable housing is delivered to meet the needs of the local population. This requires full involvement with developers, housing associations and planning officers at the council.

“I have been working on my Diploma in a group of about 26 students from a variety of organisations and job roles within housing. I was surprised by how many fellow students had little idea of the important work of CIH and how influential it could be. And there seemed to be a general lack of enthusiasm for converting their student membership to full membership when completing the course.”

Julie also praised the course at Solent, and the benefits of studying at the university. “The course has covered subjects directly relating to my various roles. The fact that I was studying for the Diploma helped secure my current job. Each of the modules has benefited my work in some way or another, from devising questionnaires, delivering presentations, writing reports, understanding organisations' governance procedures and, most importantly, being able to question whether things actually work or not. I've also gained a lot of specific technical knowledge, for example in planning and design, and also an appreciation of the bigger housing-related picture.”

(Focus on FMAS newsletter, 2009)

Where is she now - A graduate interview..

Carly Rigley, editorial assistant of At Home magazine.

At Home magazine is a monthly women's consumer magazine, featuring a different celebrity each issue. Content varies from health, beauty, fashion, fitness, food and drink to homes and interiors.

What do you do? As editorial assistant, I have many roles. These include: researching for various features, contacting PRs for information and images, compiling product pages, writing the news pages, representing the magazine at press launches, dealing with reader queries, organising reader competitions, as well as managing the editor's diary and admin bits in and around the office. I also help the art team with image research.

How long have you been here? I have been here since July 07 (I joined straight after I graduated). I had done work experience at the magazine in the summer during 2nd and 3rd year uni, so got to know the editor and when I graduated, there was a position available.

What are the benefits? There's many perks of the job. As the editorial team is quite small, I get to write many features (which is not something an editorial assistant normally gets the opportunity to do.) I write in-house, as well as freelance so I've gained lots of experience. Also we get a lot of freebies and samples sent to us, which is cool, and the goody bags from press launches are always a bonus.

Worst part? - I'd probably say the pressure on press week. Plus the admin side of things can get a bit tedious.

Good money? - magazine journalism isn't very well paid, but that's not why people join the industry. Editorial assistants can expect to receive a starting salary of around £14,000 to £18,000 depending on the company and location.

(Focus on FMAS newsletter, 2009)