Alumni - Rachel Hains, MA Journalism

Studying at Oxford Brookes was a joy and a privilege. The staff are experts in their field, and have an invaluable wealth of knowledge, experience, and contacts to draw from. They were also lovely people, and knew how to make every seminar interesting - even during lockdowns. 

As part of the course I was able to achieve my NCTJ diploma, which has been crucial to my success in entering the field of journalism. It covered all the basics of finding, researching, and constructing a great story. It also covered various sections of media law, and - most importantly - allowed me to gain practical experience, by building a portfolio which I was able to use upon entering the world of work.

Through the course of my degree and diploma, I was able to secure a temporary position as a freelance contributor for the Coventry Telegraph. Thanks to the support of the staff at Brookes, I was able to use this position to earn myself a full-time role as a Network reporter for the publication's parent company, Reach PLC.

I am now working with their numerous regional titles, as well as writing for the Daily Express.

Posted on 09 Aug 2022 around 1pm