Student work
The Informer
The Informer comprises of second and third year BA (Hons) Journalism students, dedicated to bringing honest, candid and relevant articles to students at the University of Cumbria.
BBC Radio 1's One Big Weekend in Carlisle provided an ideal opportunity for our students to put their journalistic talents to the test.
We reported from the initial announcement and build-up, as well as interviewing musicians and DJs. One of our students even worked as part of the Radio 1 press team.
We have been nominated for awards, including the Press Gazette Student Journalism Awards.
The Informer is more than a publication for our students to gain practical newsroom experience and tread the grounds of reporting. It's an opportunity to build a strong portfolio of work in order to gain work placements and impress prospective employers.
Student Life with the News and Star
Student journalists at the University of Cumbria are getting a head start in the world of media by working with the professionals and writing their own weekly page in Carlisle’s award-winning daily paper, the News and Star.
The undergraduate reporters, based at the city’s Brampton Road campus, have been put in charge of writing material for the paper’s student life page. Their work showcases news, features, comment and reviews reflecting the lives of the burgeoning student population in Carlisle.
The students work on their stories from a well-equipped newsroom at the university’s Brampton Road campus, but stay in close contact with News and Star staff right up to deadline.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for them", says Tony Randall, course leader for the university’s degree in journalism. "Most student journalists aren’t able to experience this level of involvement with a newspaper during their course, and to be working for a paper with the News & Star’s quality and reputation is a feather in their cap.
"We’re immensely grateful to the publishers, the CN Group, for being so positive about helping the journalists of tomorrow learn their trade – and for having faith in their abilities."
CN digital strategy manager Nick Turner says:
"Our weekly student life page follows on from the success we had with the Re-Fresh student guide that CN produced in conjunction with the university and its students over the summer.
"It’s great to be able to give the journalism students a platform to write for a newspaper on a regular basis, and it allows us to be able to connect with the growing student population in a way we wouldn’t be able to without their involvement."
The student editor is Tom Little, currently in the final year of his studies.
He explains: "Being editor of Student Life is a brilliant opportunity to put into practice the skills I have learned. Writing for a well-known publication gives me more confidence and more contacts in the industry. Everyone should do work experience during their degree."