Regional press news – this story published 14.7.2006

My week at The Sun:
A journalism wannabe tells it how it is
By Nadia Gilani

Nadia Gilani has been freelancing for websites and magazines for four years and has been dedicated to getting an ‘in’ into newspapers since December 2005.
Her work experience placements vary from glossy magazines to local papers including: Vogue, Harpers and Queen, Yorkshire Post, Independent on Sunday and Enfield Gazette.
Her next step is to take a 19-week NCTJ course at Harlow college in September. She has just taken her entrance test and is waiting to hear if she has a place. You can read her blog at:
www.sweetvermouth.blogspot.com.

Nadia

Persistence got me a week’s work experience at the UK’s biggest-selling daily.

A fortnight ago when they confirmed dates, I put down the phone and dashed around the flat on an adrenal overdrive of excitement and terror. The latter for fear I would louse it up once there.

I’ve not been a particularly avid Sun reader in the past. I didn’t grow up with it in the house. This has obviously transformed of late, where I’ve been studying it in the manner I do with all publications before I enter their offices.

I’ve been lucky to have got a ‘yes’. In light of this, it’s worth mentioning the cross-section of attitudes that I have experienced from news reporters on papers throughout the country. I’ve found local and tabloid staff to be the most willing and supportive towards me as an apprentice. This is a gross generalisation of course, and I am not suggesting it’s a true thing everywhere you go, but it is telling given the fact that the world of tabloids is probably the toughest in which to thrive. It’s certainly the most challenging style in which to write. Anyone who thinks it’s easy hasn’t tried.

Another thing, is that almost all non-readers of the paper with whom I spoke about my placement told me they hate it and find its worthiness as a paper questionable. Ignorant opinions never cease to amaze me.

The paper has not suddenly turned into my reading of choice above all else, but having familiarised myself with its style, I’ve acquired an appetite for its emotive punchy prose. The truth is, that beyond the ‘froth’ (which has its place too) exists much hard news which makes for an authoritative newspaper.

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