One of the most significant ways the course prepared me for my career was through its intensive news day structure, and throughout my studies, I said “yes” to every opportunity

Off to a flying start

After completing my MA in Journalism in 2022, I was offered roles at Google for data reporting, the Daily Express for royal reporting, and a place on the Daily Mail graduate scheme, which I accepted for its international opportunities and rotational training across specialist desks. For the initial training at regional papers, I was placed at the Liverpool Echo, where I wrote the front-page splash on the funeral of Olivia Pratt-Korbel. At the Daily Mail, I worked on the news desk covering major breaking stories, including suspected terrorist incidents at Buckingham Palace and live blogging on Nicola Bulley’s disappearance, before spending a year on the Health Desk investigating harmful consumer products in supermarkets and the dangerous human cost of cosmetic surgery in Turkey.

I later joined the Showbusiness Desk, covering red carpets, premieres, and awards ceremonies, and interviewing high-profile TV figures including Gemma Collins, Sam Thompson, Ashley Cain, Marvin Humes, Josie Gibson and many more. Now full-time in Showbusiness, my work has included a-lister interviews, including Tom Jones, and will.i.am and on-location features such as stunt training for Jason Statham films and SAS: Who Dares Wins training. I have also been on many international feature trips, including luxury yacht trips around Mallorca and Gibraltar, and being flown to Glasgow to take part in TV gameshows with Ross Kemp.

Chloe Coleridge

MA Journalism

How did the Journalism MA help set me up for my successful career?

One of the most significant ways the University of Sheffield prepared me for my career was through its intensive news day structure. Each week, alongside other academic and work commitments, we were required to produce a minimum of two fully developed stories, incorporating interviews, photography, audio, and video. We were also responsible for publishing our work, creating social media content, and applying SEO principles to maximise reach. This experience closely mirrors the demands of my current role. On a daily basis, I am not only responsible for writing stories but also for crafting SEO-optimised headlines for the homepage, mobile platforms, and social media, as well as creating URLs. The news day model provided a realistic, pressurised newsroom environment and gave me a strong foundation in the multi-platform, audience-focused journalism required in today’s media industry.

Making the most of my time at the University of Sheffield

Throughout my studies, I said “yes” to every opportunity. Before securing a full-time role, I proactively arranged work experience with the Liverpool Echo, the Warrington Guardian, and SWNS, as well as freelancing for Sky News, where I helped cover the General Election. I also undertook paid podcast work with AJ Bell, discussing financial literacy. Alongside this, I regularly reached out to industry professionals for advice and guidance, meeting national journalists in London and connecting with the owner of Liverpool Business News. These conversations provided a candid insight into the realities of the industry and what it demands. I also worked part-time in hospitality three to four nights a week, which unexpectedly became another networking avenue, often leading to conversations with local reporters. In addition, I served as Break Editor of the university newspaper, Forge Press, overseeing comment pieces, light-hearted features, and puzzle pages. This role strengthened my editorial judgement, network, and ability to manage tight deadlines and last-minute changes.

During my time at university, I fully embraced the opportunities offered by the student newspaper, signing up to Forge Press in my first week. I became Break Editor, with responsibility for comment pieces, light-hearted features, and the puzzle pages. This role required strong commissioning and editing skills, as well as the ability to manage contributors, meet tight deadlines, and respond quickly when content fell through at short notice. In addition to editorial responsibilities, the role sharpened my visual and digital skills. I was responsible for editing the page layouts with Adobe software and collecting images. This developed an understanding of how imagery supports tone, audience engagement, and layout.

The course culture

The University of Sheffield created a large, collaborative environment that encouraged people to share their opinions and use their voices. Their seminars allowed dividing topics to be discussed in fun and insightful ways which showed that in journalism, there isn’t always a right and wrong answer. The lecturers at the University understand that one way of teaching does not suit all and so they adapt learning styles and offer support when needed. Seminars saw breaking complex topics into engaging and insightful discussions that reflected the realities of journalism, where context, judgement, and perspective often matter more than definitive right or wrong answers.

I particularly remember one seminar on ethics which, quite literally, divided the room into a heated, yet light-hearted discussion. The teaching staff demonstrated a clear understanding that learning is not one-size-fits-all. Lecturers adapted in their approaches, responsive to individual needs. This strengthened my critical thinking but also closely mirrored the collaborative and debate-driven nature of professional newsrooms.

My advice to future students

My advice to students hoping to enter journalism is threefold. First, say yes to every opportunity. Even if a role or task doesn’t immediately appeal to you, it will equip you with essential newsroom skills, including the ability to report objectively on stories that may sit outside your personal views. Second, don’t be shy or learn to fake confidence until it becomes real. Journalism is a people-facing profession, and the more comfortable you are speaking to strangers, the more likely you are to secure strong contacts and exclusives. Regularly doing vox pops is an effective way to build this confidence and sharpen your interviewing instincts. Finally, get organised and plan your week carefully. Send emails and line up interviews as soon as you are aware of your deadlines, rather than leaving them until the last minute. For me, nothing sounds more stressful than having 30 minutes to file a story with no interviews, context, or background in place.