Chloe Perceval

Why did you choose to study multimedia journalism at Kent?

I did my undergraduate degree, Politics and International Releations at Canterbury as part of my bi-diplôme. I decided to come here because I knew the University and I was happy with my experiences as an undergraduate at Kent. The Centre for Journalism has good results. I enjoy being one of a smaller group, which makes it a good experience.

What do you think of the facilities at Kent?

They are very good, we have all the equipment we need.

How are you finding the course?

It’s interesting and diverse. We have practical sessions on how to use the television and radio kit, how to write a news piece, going out to do our own reports, meet people, interview people and make contacts.

What have you particularly enjoyed so far?

I really enjoyed the teaching about radio journalism, reporting using the radio kit was fun. We had sessions on how to write for different stories, different kinds of media. I enjoyed learning how to write for different markets: features, news stories and online. I enjoy news days the most. You have to build up a radio programme, for example, and everyone has something different to do: interviewing, editing, sound recording or reading the news. At 5pm, two presenters bring in all the stories we have been working on, the packages we’ve been recording, editing or doing a live interview in the studio. We do the same for print and produce a newspaper for that day with news, international stories and entertainment news. It’s exciting.

How have you been supported in your studies?

The teachers are really helpful, whether it’s an assignment or not understanding something that was done in class. They are always open to us going to them with work opportunities or internships. If you want to contact someone but don’t know how to approach a media organisation they will help. Every student has an academic adviser they can go to for help. The lecturers all have different backgrounds. Some have worked in local news, others have specialised in international matters.

What about your fellow students?

We have a lot of international students. You learn a lot being with people who come from all over the world like Uganda, Germany or Switzerland. We don’t view the same things as  being important and we don’t look at things the same way which is good when it comes to discussing news. Different points of view make it so interesting.

How do you feel the degree will help your employment prospects?

The degree prepares you for when you graduate; you know how to produce a television or radio package, how to write for print. You have contacts and know how to go and talk to people. You get so much out of the year, a lot of us had never done radio before, many of us had never written for the press and you get to the end of term and know you can do all of these things. It’s not a lot of time to get so many skills and it gives you confidence. 

What’s next for you?

I would like to be a foreign correspondent for a national newspaper. I am looking at working in Canada; I speak French and English and I think they are looking for people who can speak both languages.

Any advice for potential students?

Go for it. Don’t be afraid, it’s an enjoyable experience. You get to meet a lot of people and do a lot of things, it’s exciting. I didn’t realise I would get so much out of it. You learn how to use a camera properly, make a radio tape and now it all seems so natural.