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Freelance work led to permanent role for journalism graduate

27 November 2015

 

Nathan Lee secured a job in television and made his first live appearance as a news presenter before even completing his journalism course at Teesside University.

Nathan, 23, of Peterlee, is working as a video journalist with fledging television station Made in Tyne & Wear, which recently celebrated its first birthday.

As well as presenting live news updates, Nathan reports, films, edits and packages news items broadcast by the station to viewers watching the channel across the region on Sky and Freeview.

Nathan presents a live weekly news update and puts together full programmes for the television station, which broadcasts 24-hours a day.

He recently joined a North-East fundraiser on a mercy trip to Greece, gaining exclusive access to report on their trip to distribute aid to stricken refugees. One of his exclusive broadcasts from Greece has now also been nominated for a Royal Television Society award.

Nathan, who graduates today with a first class BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism, said it was a combination of the teaching, course content and locality which brought him to Teesside to study.

'The media facilities at Teesside University are really good, with teaching by media professionals who have worked in the industry. It was also important too that the course involved the NCTJ professional journalism qualification.

'The course teaches us every aspect of multimedia journalism and the need in the industry today to be equipped to do everything from gathering the news, to filming, editing and packaging content ready to be distributed to the audience.'

Nathan had initially thought about print journalism while completing his degree and did work experience at regional newspapers, which helped to broaden his media experience and help him to decide that broadcast journalism was for him.

'I was still at Teesside when I saw a tweet from Made in Tyne & Wear who were looking for freelance video journalists. After a trial I was offered eight weeks of freelance shifts.'

While with the television station Nathan was offered a permanent full-time role while still completing his degree.

He said: 'The University was really accommodating as my lecturers were really pleased I had secured a job. The course certainly equipped me for a job in the media industry, which wants graduates who can hit the ground running.'


 
 
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