Bless the taxman, Another new job
Flipping hell, that was a fast turnaround!
Somewhere, somewhere, a taxman is receiving my fourth P45 in four months and is ready to pass away.
Next week marks my last week at ‘That’s TV’ before I move on to a Trainee Journalist role with Reach PLC. It’s been a whirlwind of experiences, lessons, and memories, but this leap feels like the right one for me.
Now, there are a lot of reasons why I’ve decided to swap from Broadcast and go back to my written roots - so to speak.
Anyone who knows me knows that my heart has always been in writing. While the adrenaline rush of live broadcasts and the thrill of getting stories on air have had their appeal, my passion has always leaned toward crafting stories with words. I’m a firm believer in the power of slow news. From an ethos point of view, I have always believed that consuming news ethically and producing ethical news go hand-in-hand. A great pillar of this is marked by holding myself accountable to the way I am producing news and long-form fits this motive far greater than broadcast does.
That’s not to say I haven’t loved my time in broadcasting. There’s something uniquely exciting about the immediacy of live television. But I’ll be honest, me and PremierPro have had a rather tumultuous relationship. Bless the team at Humber; I’m pretty sure there has not been a show without at least one misspelt ticker. While it’s good to laugh at our mistakes, there is no doubt that I was born to tip-tap on a google doc, not on FMC.
The decision to move to Reach PLC wasn’t just about my preference for longform. It’s also about achieving a better work-life balance. Commuting as far as I was, (Sheff-Manch) a part of the job I knew I was going to have to adapt too. Gladley, I would have stuck it out, however, the new role also is offering other perks and combined, its genuinely an opportunity I would be silly to say no too.
With this new role, I’ll be spending less time on the road and more time doing the things I am passionate about, including focusing on my NCTJ studie. There’s a real sense of liberation in knowing I’ll have the time and energy to dedicate to personal growth - especially because shorthand has still bloody evaded me. Maybe I will get luckier this time!
Speaking of my NCTJ, my final Gold Standard exam is on the horizon. I have always wanted my seniors, so this exam should bring me one step closer. I’ve put so much into this journey, and it would mean the world to officially earn the ol Gold - worst case I can drown my sorrows in Vietnam!
Right now, I’m focused on making the most of my final days at ‘That’s TV.’ It’s hard to put into words just how much I’ve appreciated working with such a brilliant team. There’s a camaraderie that comes from working in a fast-paced newsroom that’s hard to replicate. The new role is a work-from-home job and I know that I will miss going into an office, even if it means I get my early gym sessions back!
One thing I’ll particularly miss is the sense of community that comes with covering local news. There’s something incredibly rewarding about shining a light on stories that matter to people in your area. Whether it’s a local hero making a difference, a community event bringing people together, or a hard-hitting investigation that holds power to account, these stories are the heartbeat of a region. It’s been a privilege to play a small part in amplifying those voices.
Luckily for me, Reach PLC has a similar commitment to local journalism, and I’m eager to continue making meaningful contributions in my new role. The opportunities for growth and development are vast, and I’m looking forward to exploring them. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even stir up a little journalistic ruckus along the way hehe.
The role is fixed-term, and while the end date looms somewhere on the horizon, I’m embracing the uncertainty. There’s something exhilarating about not knowing exactly where life will take you next. Maybe I’ll find a long-term home within Reach PLC. Maybe new opportunities will present themselves. Whatever happens, I’m confident that this experience will be a valuable stepping stone on my journey.
So here’s to the next chapter. To early morning coffee-fueled writing sessions, to chasing down leads, to telling stories that matter. Here’s to growth, to challenges, to celebrating every victory (big and small). And here’s to always remembering that no matter how chaotic things get, there’s nothing a bit of spellcheck can’t fix xoxo
