Human interest: portrait of three LSJ students

Journalism is testing, but they are determined to get there

Claudia, 25, student in journalism from Avezzano, Italy

I have always been someone sociable. I love to have contact with people, and I am also very into the field of culture - I myself studied violin for eight years. But writing is also one of my passions.

First, I have studied humanities for five years, but I also have a bachelor's degree in Italian literature. And now, I am studying journalism since last year. As practical experiences, I have worked in different publications over the years, in the field of informations and communications. Obviously, I have never been paid for all I have done there, but I guess that is the way at first. I must say it has not been disappointment-free: even if you are passionate about a work, it does not make everything, and we need to feel gratified sometimes... Something that did not always happen. When I worked for an important Italian newspaper, for instance, they had promised me a job at the end of my internship. Of course, this never happened, and it has upset me deeply.

So now, I work as the head of press office at Adsumus Quoque, an association I founded with friends of mine, and where I deal with arts and cultural events. I am very happy with it, because I can keep on writing – the one thing I love and that makes me feel free – and I am keeping a contact with culture.

But even though I am lucky to have had all those experiences, the LSJ was a great opportunity because it is one of the best schools to study journalism. So at the end of it, when I will have learned so much, I will go back to Italy and try to work in some newspaper in Rome. I will also keep on practising my English, because it is one of the most important languages in this globalized world now. For someone sociable like me, that would be really ironic not to be able to communicate well with others!

 

Morgane, 23, freelance journalist from Paris, France

I realized I love writing when I made a communications' internship for my languages studies. After that I made another internship at the cinema journal Première – I honestly still have no idea how they got my resume – and there, it was... special. On the one hand I was writing about cinema, something I had always dreamed to do; on the other hand, the rhythm was one of a factory, and with time I got almost fed up with cinema altogether. I didn't like this bitter-sweet taste, so before the end of the contract, I quitted.

Then I left for New York to take a language class for two weeks last January, and when I came back I started working at the League Against Cancer. But they did not gave me the tasks promised in the ad, and in the end I was never in contact with people; however that's what I am interested in. So I quitted.

But I knew I still wanted to write. So I applied to where I am working now, La Gazette du Val d'Oise and L'Echo régional. I discovered many things there, from politics and cultural events to associations and humanitarian actions: domains I truly love. However it is not well paid, and I want to be financially independent now.

I also want to leave France, and if possible go back to the United-States. That is why I took this summer school: I was looking for a short programme that would give me more skills in the English

writing style, so that I can work abroad. The LSJ's programme being very broad, I thought it could also make me realize where I would want to specialize in.

So as soon as I get back in France, I will quit my job (I swear I am not making it on purpose) and look for several weeks for journalism opportunities abroad. And if I can, I would like to pursue humanitarian works, to give a voice to minorities and get involved in social issues through my writing.

Fabiola, 21, student in political sciences and international relations from Salerno, Italy

Since I was a child, I have wanted to become a journalist. So I am ready to do whatever it takes to succeed in my dream – my dream job being correspondent for a Middle-Eastern country, which is why I have learned Arabic.
After my baccalaureate three years ago, I went to a political sciences and international relations' bachelor's degree at the university of Naples “L'Orientale”. Even though I have also participated in national final games in mathematics and chemistry prior to that, in 2000 and 2009, what I like is humanistic studies and not hard sciences.

But actually, my interest in international relations, which in my view are a key feature to understanding society, was born in my last year of high school. That is why I worked afterwards for my university's newspaper, Levante online, at the Middle-Eastern desk. But I quitted and since May of last year, I am working at the Radio Base, based in Pagani in Italy. It is not always easy of course, it has its ups and downs, but I want to stay because it is really interesting to have the chance to experience real editorial reality.

I am really benefiting from this summer course, and London is a nice change from the place where I live back home: I like the cosmopolitan soul of this city. What I expect from this school is, first of all, to improve my English, which will in turn allow me to keep on pursuing my efforts to become a foreign correspondent. I know there are a lot of difficulties, and I am actually realizing every day how difficult it is make yourself a place in this world. I guess it is the kind of things that happen when you face the reality of any job you want to do; but it won't stop me, that is a certainty. 

This article was written as an assignment for the London School of Journalism