The Development and Global tracks of the Media and Communications department organised field trips to two big media houses in UK, to help students get a sneak peak into what it is like working at one.
The Development track took its student to the Al Jazeera English UK office while the Global track organised a trip to The Guardian. Getting a first-hand insight into a major TV news channel and a print news agency helped us to understand the variations as well as identify their place in the industry.
At Al Jazeera, the Listening Post Executive Producer, Meenakshi Ravi took us around the office and showed us the various sections, within the office, from different kinds of studios to editing booths and regular writing stations.
The office itself is a pretty idyllic location - sitting on the 16th floor of the Shard. Richard Gizbert, the host of one of the station’s programmes answered a variety of questions us student had.
The Guardian was a more of an intimate affair where we learned about the history of the paper, how it has evolved over the years and where it stands today. Paul Owen, one of the editors at the international desk, (and an LSE Alumni himself) walked us through the process of covering a story and shared a few tips on how to make it in the industry.
The two field trips has definitely left us students inspired and given us a necessary taste of the real world! It’s also provided students interested in a career with opportunities to look out for.
Words and photos by LSE Social Media Ambassador Yashi Jain