‘Work experience with Bristol24/7 gave us invaluable insight into journalism’

A big part of the focus at Bristol24/7 is helping aspiring journalists to get their first taste of the trade.

University of Bristol students Sanjana Idnani and Sarah Dalton spent a week as part of the editorial team reporting on news across the city and working on their own feature ideas.

Between them, they covered stories from climate change protests and Diwali to the future of Broadmead, environmental activists and art installations.

They have written about their week with Bristol24/7 and what it meant to them.

Sanjana Idnani

Sanjana worked on a range of articles for Bristol24/7 – photo by Ellie Pipe

Having written for student publications such as Epigram and Her Campus, I knew that I was interested in the journalism industry. Work experience with Bristol24/7 gave me an invaluable insight into what it was like to work in the industry on a day-to-day basis.

During my time at Bristol24/7, I was able to work on a vast range of articles from a news story on a major climate protest in Bristol to a feature on how Diwali was being celebrated in Bristol this year, an article that was particularly personal as I celebrated Diwali in Bristol for the first time myself.

The team at Bristol24/7 were also really good at encouraging me to try new things. One piece that I worked on with my colleague and friend, Sarah Dalton, about the state of Broadmead involved approaching shoppers and traders in the area and asking them for their thoughts for the article.

Though it was daunting at first, my confidence built with each person I spoke to. The experience taught me about the vital importance of knowing and interacting with the community that you are writing about.

My time at Bristol24/7 taught me that journalism is all about putting yourself out there and while that can be difficult at times, the more you do it, the easier it becomes and you realise how enjoyable it can be!

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Read more: Diwali 2021: How is it being celebrated in Bristol? 

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Sarah Dalton

Sarah found her confidence in her journalistic abilities grew over the course of the week – photo by Ellie Pipe

Having spent two years editing the University of Bristol’s student paper, I was also sure that journalism was what I wanted to do, but I knew that I still had a lot to learn. Work experience at Bristol24/7 gave me the perfect opportunity to do this.

The Bristol24/7 team provided me with constant support and advice on my writing style, but also gave me the freedom to find my own stories and lead my own work.

I visited the Bristol Beacon’s latest installation after hearing about it on social media and conducted professional interviews with the artist and project lead. I would not have been able to do this without Bristol24/7’s trust in me to represent them publicly.

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Read more: Sustainable art installation celebrates Bristol’s unsung climate heroes

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As the week went on, my confidence in going out into the community and speaking to locals grew, and the exhilaration I felt doing this only confirmed that journalism was what I wanted to do.

The kind and supportive atmosphere at Bristol24/7 has been invaluable to me this week and my work experience has taught me invaluable things that will continue to guide me throughout my future career.

If you want to arrange work experience at Bristol24/7, please email our Deputy Editor, Ellie Pipe: ellie@bristol247.com

Please consider becoming a member for just £5 a month to help us grow our outreach projects and continue to offer high quality work experience placements to young people in Bristol. With your help, we can reach even more young people.

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: ‘My work experience with Bristol24/7 was the perfect opportunity’

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