1st Day at Coventry University
26th September 2016
11AM – 4:15PM
Location: Coventry University
Mood: Lets see how it goes…
Today marked my first step on the path to become a journalist. “How’d it go” i hear you ask? Well I certainly could have done a lot worse. It was a long day for someone who hasn’t done a proper days graft since they graduated back in July…
Parked up, raring to go, sausage roll in one hand and notepad in the other, I entered the Ellen Terry Building. Upon arrival I was greeted by my lecturers for the year, Andrew Noakes and Fred Mudhai. Once the formalities of registers and admin were out of the way, we were taken on the tour of what will be my stomping ground for the next year. I’d like to say that my postgraduate ‘status’ allowed me to waltz around campus with a note of superiority but with a face like mine people were questioning whether they were in a University or a Nursery. Do I not look like I’ve had my soul crushed gradually for the last three years, that I was the twisted, foreboding face of what was to come for all the new, bright face freshers? Evidently not.
Tour complete, the traditional ‘Spoons’ lunch consumed, it was time to meet a man who I am sure will be the highlight of my week. Steve Cropley. A man with unfathomable experience in the trade and a kindness to his voice that is rare to find. The editor-in-chief for AutoCar, the oldest Car publication in the UK, was quick to pass on his knowledge about journalism, describing the pit falls and, most importantly, how to enhance my employability prospects. That is one of the reasons I have started this blog. In a world where everyone can have a voice, I’ve decided to finally voice mine and fight my way to be heard above the rest.
Cropley’s devotion to his passion is unparalleled. I could tell that just from listening to him speak about the past stories he’s broken, the buzz from being the person who tells the world breaking news. It was infectious. Sure, I didn’t particularly care for what car is breaking the land-speed record, or what the best car was in 1985, but I did care for his devotion and excitement for his passion. Watching him lecture about his enthralment in cars made me question what was my passion? What do I want to write about? What can I report about with the same ‘oomph’ as he could. Football!
Cropley’s publication is owned by media conglomerate Haymarket, operating out of Twickenham, London and Daventry. How lucky is it that the publication that i want to work for, FourFourTwo which is also under Haymarket, operates out of Twickenham… as does Cropley. Hopefully he can put in a good word for me, after all, he did teach that work experience is the most essential component to landing your dream job. Practice what you preach Steve?
It was a very interesting, possibly career changing day. I left Ellen Terry full of optimism and a sense of purpose. I want to write and produce content for an outlet which I have a strong passion for, and for the first time I believe I can do it. Steve Cropley is the man who I aspire to be. When I’m 67, with forty years of journalistic experience under my belt, I hope that I can stare at my 1000th article with the same optimistic enthusiasm as if it was my first as Cropley does, just with a few less cars of course!
