Double celebration for student at the end of their GCU journey
When Multimedia Journalism student Sophie Adams first started university, she was shy and lacking in confidence.
Now, after four years (and a global pandemic), she’s graduating with a First-Class Honours Degree, while also landing a nomination for Student Journalist of the Year at the Commercial Radio News Awards.
Held in association with the IRN and Sky News, the awards celebrate the very best of commercial radio news across the length and breadth of the UK.
We caught up with Sophie to hear her thoughts ahead of the ceremony, and to find out more about her personal and professional journey:
Why did you want to study Multimedia Journalism?
“A lot of people on my course always wanted to do journalism but I was the odd one out! I loved science at secondary school and really wanted to work in something within the healthcare sector but I didn’t do too well in my Highers. In my 6th year at school, I came to the realisation that I was quite good at English and basically put it together with journalism – even though they’re not really linked!
I actually took a year out after secondary school, just to make sure I wanted to do the course and move to Glasgow. I’m so glad I did, because my life would be completely different.”
What appealed to you about radio journalism?
“When I started uni, I wasn’t really too sure what type of journalism I wanted to do. I love music and thought it would be great to have a career writing about it, but I quickly found out that there’s no money in it!
I was really shy when I started first year and basically saw university as a chance to break away from being quiet like I was in secondary school – it was a new start. I tried to bring some confidence and personal growth to myself, and I found that broadcast journalism was a really interesting part of the course. Having my voice recorded and being in front of camera was something I never thought I’d be interested in.
As the course progressed, I really enjoyed it and managed to find my feet in the middle of the pandemic doing some freelance work for Central FM, which involved reading out bulletins and doing some scripting. From there, I got involved in more freelancing work with Radio Clyde, which started with a two-week placement during last year’s summer break.”
So, tell me how the nomination came about?
“I’ve known about it for a few years – it’s the biggest awards ceremony in the commercial radio news sector. The Commercial Radio News Award are highly respected within the industry and breaking through in a category like Student Journalist of the Year is exactly where I want to be.
I was encouraged to go for it by my boss, the Head of News at Clyde 1. I sent in a demo reel with some of my work, putting together four short clips that I’ve broadcast over the last year. In all honesty, I did it without any hope or expectation of actually being selected.
I woke up one morning and my girlfriend had just got an email about her degree classification, so I thought I’d better check my emails. I had lots of messages from colleagues saying that I’d been nominated and I then saw there are only four students across the UK who made the final stage and I was one of them!
It’s great for me and the work that I’ve done but it’s also great for the university - there’s only ever been two other GCU students nominated for Student Journalist of the Year. I’m just really chuffed.”
You were nominated on the 9th of June and found out about your First-Class Honours on the 10th of June; not a bad couple of days?
“I couldn’t really believe it to be honest. I was just thinking ‘oh my gosh, I’ve just been nominated’ and I knew there was chat about our results coming out on the Friday. It was a nervy wait, because you put so much work in over the four years. It popped through on my phone and it was an amazing feeling. Seeing your work and effort culminate in a nomination for a national awards and a first-class honours was just incredible – I certainly had a good celebration that weekend!”
You must be excited to round off your experience at GCU with graduation?
“It’s going to be great! We’ve hardly been able to see each other over the last two years and we’re only a small class of about 15. It’ll be great to see everyone again and celebrate getting to the end of a long journey – both with the pandemic and degree!”
You mentioned you were shy when you first started university; surely the last month has provided you with confidence for your future career?
“I’m quite guilty of not taking pride in my own work – I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I do give my all, but I always think at the end that my work could be a wee bit better. I do get told by colleagues and teaching staff that I need to take more confidence from my work. Walking away with a nomination at an awards like this, which is so well respected within the industry, is just a huge feat for me. I’ve definitely taken some confidence away knowing I can produce work that’s good enough to be recognised at that level.
To get a first-class honours as well is just incredible, given how shy and awkward I was at the start. It definitely wouldn’t have been possible without the teaching from the staff at GCU, and all the support we’ve had throughout the pandemic. It’s been a massive learning curve for all of us but I know everyone on the course is chuffed that they chose to study at GCU.”
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter