Ely Standard – Thursday Sept 11, 2008

Oliver Cromwell Remembrance Day

Fen Tiger Sighting – story carried NIB on front cover.

My second visit to the Ely Standard. 

Based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, the paper forms part of the Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire leg of Archant Newspapers and is produced weekly. With a separate edition produced for Soham Town, the newspaper covers local stories and has reduced coverage of events outside of its patch including world news.

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekly paper and learnt a lot from the concentrated team of reporters. Meeting a trainee reporter was particularly useful as I was able to hear about her recent training and experiences. Attending court for the afternoon was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. Not only was I amazed by all the action, but the importance of shorthand was highlighted when asked to write up the article. Comparing my version of events with the trained journalist was somewhat shocking at first. Not understanding some of the terms and missing keys facts made my story a tale of its own.

Note to self: Learn shorthand – quickly.

My two bylined stories proved to be the first time I’d seen my name in print. Exciting!

Where to begin?

Finally, I’ve started to put my portfolio online.  But how to display it?

Aside from the usual listings of achievements, CV’s and testimonials how should I showcase my work?

Now in my second year of a BA Media and Communications (Journalism) degree, I have a fairly varied portfolio ranging from bridal magazines to daily newspapers and online blogs. Having looked at a variety of portfolios from other experts in the field I am even more confused as to which style to adopt.

Any tips would be extremely beneficial!