Welcome - The Student Perspective (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Welcome - The Student Perspective

8:47pm Wednesday 4th March 2009 in

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A few weeks ago four other students and I were invited to take part in an exciting project involving the University of Hertfordshire and the Welwyn Hatfield Review. As part of the project we were asked to contribute this blog. I remember walking out of this meeting discussing this project with my fellow students; we were all excited about the prospects it could bring.

Journalism is a competitive profession to get into at the best of times. Add to this the current global recession and its effect on jobs then the whole scenario worsens. Experience is everything! Passing up this opportunity would have just been an act of stupidity.

At present the ‘credit crunch’ is only having a minimalistic impact on the student population. Most of us students receive our student loans and just live on the basics as per norm. Despite this, the ‘credit crunch’ is affecting those students who are graduating into the current economic environment. Students have to work harder to get the jobs; a good degree is no longer enough.

One solution to this problem would be for us students to continue our studies and carry out a Masters Degree. Yet do we really want to graduate into the current economy with more debt?

NO!

This is why it is essential, not just for those interested in journalism, to gain relevant work experience in their chosen area. This, according to the professional association for Higher Education careers practitioners, is what employers are really looking for.

This is why this opportunity is so exciting for us students. We have been presented with the chance to gain experience in our chosen areas of work, consequently we will have a better chance of getting those jobs once we graduate.

It is also exciting for us to have our work published into the community. This is perhaps more exciting than the experience.

I think most students and locals of the area would admit that there is a clear division between the two communities. I hope that through writing this blog we can help give a student perspective, and in doing so help integrate the communities. Hopefully, it will help the local community as well as enhancing the student experience.

I hope you enjoy the student perspective.