Congratulations on being invited for an interview to study Broadcast and Digital Journalism at Leeds Trinity University. We’ve got a long and proud history of training aspiring journalists and communications professionals, so we’re delighted you’re considering studying Broadcast and Digital Journalism with us.
We understand that the prospect of an interview can be daunting, so we’d like to reassure you by telling you a bit about our approach to interviews.
As one of the leading providers of journalism training in the country, we produce journalists with the multi-platform news skills needed to succeed in the industry. Learning from lecturers who are also experienced journalists, we attempt to simulate the fast-paced newsroom environment. Access to industry-standard facilities and technology provides highly vocational and practical training.
You will make valuable industry connections with award-winning journalists, through a regular programme of guest lectures, events and our annual Journalism and Media Week.
Your Broadcast and Digital Journalism Interview
Your interview with the Journalism staff will take place using the Microsoft Teams platform. Once you've booked your interview, you will be sent an invite to the Teams meeting. The interview should last no more than half an hour. There will be a short writing task to complete, you’ll be sent the details about this around 2 hours before your booked interview time.
Preparing for your Interview
Great journalists and communicators share many qualities. They’re passionate about storytelling and they’re curious about the world around them; about people and their stories. They’re skilled communicators and want to use their skills to educate and make an impact.
You’ve demonstrated that you have these qualities in your application, so we now want to give you the chance to showcase this.
The activities are informal and relaxed – they're not designed to trick you or catch you out. We want you to share why you want a career in journalism or communications, and the preparation, passion and enthusiasm you have to achieve your goals.
You might be asked about your interest in journalism and your understanding of, and engagement with, major news stories and some of the current issues in the world of journalism. The interviewing tutor might also talk to you about the writing task you’ll have submitted to them just beforehand.
You should be prepared to talk about the following topics:
- What are the most important skills a journalist needs?
- What are the current major news stories?
- Is it acceptable for journalists to freely use personal information they find on social networking sites?
- Do celebrities have a right to privacy?
- What can journalists do to make sure that members of the public trust them?
- What experience have you had so far? In particular, bring any examples of writing that you have produced.
It is important to carry out some research into these topics prior to the discussion. The following websites may be useful, but feel free to use other sources:
If you have any questions about the interview process or you are no longer able to attend your Teams meeting, please contact us on 0113 283 7123 or email [email protected] – we’re open between 9.00am and 5.00pm.
Top tips from our Journalism team
Be calm
Remember it’s an informal chat, not a scary interview. There are no games or trick questions – we simply want to get to know you and give you the opportunity to meet us. So try to relax, smile, and above all – enjoy.
Be prepared
Read everything we’ve sent you very carefully – including your interview invitation and confirmation email. These are designed to give you everything you need to prepare, so check you understand what will happen and what’s being asked of you. Prepare your answers to questions that will show us why you want to study Journalism here. Think about the kind of questions we might ask you and, wherever possible, have examples that illustrate your answers:
- Why do you want to be a journalist?
- What do you think makes a good journalist, and how does that apply to you?
- Where do you get most of your news from?
- What first made you think of being a journalist?
Be distinctive
Think about the qualities that make a good journalist and how you can demonstrate these. Also think about how you present yourself when answering questions and communicating with others.
Be confident
Tell us about your journalism experience, however big or small. Students are often doing brilliant work, but can sometimes keep it quiet. If you've written for a school newspaper, tell us about it. The same goes for any general writing experience you’ve got – if you’ve got your own blog, or have contributed to others, tell us. And If you have any examples of work you have produced, please bring them along to tell us about them – we will be impressed.
Be knowledgeable
Make sure you know who and what’s making the news. Showing that you have an opinion on the discussion topics is great, but make sure that you can back this up with your own experience or research.
Offer-holder Day
After your interview, if you are made an offer, you will be invited to attend an Offer-holder Day. You'll get the chance to find out more about your course, explore our Main Campus in Horsforth and see our facilities, accommodation and learning and social spaces.