Hello I'm Mia and I'm a trainee journalist.

Bute Building - Cardiff University 

Yup, that's right. I finally started my postgrad course on Monday and now I'm officially a Cardiff University postgraduate magazine student! (yay!). 

After graduating from my BA Hons journalism degree in 2012, I made the decision to take some time out to sort out my funds and to gain a little industry experience. I was lucky enough to be given a job in Media Wales which meant I spent 9 months having a very good insight into the world of newspapers. During my time working for the company I was given the opportunity to write some really interesting stories, including a few front pages, but my heart stayed with magazines. 

Magazines intrigue me. Like most young girls, I was addicted to magazines. I wrote to them, created my own versions and cut out my fave pictures to stick in my little magazine scrap book, so knowing that I'm one step closer to having my own real input to the industry makes things very exciting! 

Leading up to my course, I spoke to a lot of editors, bloggers and friends about what they thought about the postgrad and I faced a lot of different opinions on it. Most, if not all, of the editors said they really valued a postgrad and all commented on the reputation that Cardiff University has. However, I did have a few people question my decision mainly because of the cost and the fact that there are other ways to make it in the industry. Nowadays anyone can be a journalist. 

Personally, I believe the course is invaluable and vital. In today's society and today's industry, I think it's incredibly important to have a strong knowledge of the industry and not just a talent to write. I believe that I have a responsibility to know the legal aspects of a story that I'm writing, which is why I believe that learning about media law is essential for any young wannabe journo - something that this course will teach me. 

Yes, it's costly but I believe that it's very important and I can't wait to develop as a journalist over the next few months. 

So what does it mean to my blog?

The course itself is pretty intense so unfortunately I'm not going to be able to blog quite as much as before. I'll try my best to post on the weekends but for the next few months, I really need to put my all into this course. Although we do have to create a new blog so keep an eye out for that! 

I have a few posts coming up this week so make sure you keep checking the blog. 

Oh, and lucky for me fellow Welsh blogger Georgia Hathaway from Fashion Oyster is also on the course! She's the sweetest most genuine person and it does help having someone you know there so you can both support each other during the tough days! (which I'm sure there'll be a lot of!) 

Anyway, I'd better head off. 

Love you lots 

By Mimi x

You're not 19 forever

 

I have some news. I've been accepted on the magazine journalism post graduate course at Cardiff University and I'll be starting in September this year. 

I don't think it's actually sunk in that I'll be heading back to the place that inspired me. For those who don't know much about the journalism undergrad at Cardiff then you might not realise what this means to me. My time as a JOMECer at Cardiff was literally incredible. Although, not everyone who did the undergrad course agrees. For me, it ignited my love for the subject even more and allowed me to explore areas of it that I probably wouldn't have been able to otherwise. It gave me the confidence I needed to apply for LOOK mag, as well as allowing me to overcome any barriers that I had in terms of debating, public speaking and sticking up for what I believe in. The lecturers are the most supportive and welcoming and the building itself just feels like home. Of course, my course friends had a lot to do with my incredible experience at the uni, but the course, for me, was amazing.

This time around I'll be a fully fledged aspiring journalist. I'll be tackling media law once more as well as shorthand, ethics and learning to tap into my creativity. I know it's going to be insanely hard but I also know that it's just one more step to London. One more step to truly starting my career and my adult life. As of yet, I still feel 19. 

Things are changing and they're exciting, terrifying, overwhelming and unknown. And I honestly can't wait. 

By Mimi


 
Twitter: @miaholt Instagram: Mia_Holt