Thu 6th October, 2011
University of Bedfordshire graduate and hotshot reporter Jak Phillips has secured a highly sought after internship at TIME Magazine in London.
Jak, (far right) who graduated with a first in Journalism this year, will move to London to start his three month paid internship this month.
He said: “I can’t wait - TIME Magazine is so influential and it’s a fantastic first step in my career. I’ll know more once I’ve started, but I’ve been assigned to report mainly on global affairs. I think I’ll have the chance to write other features as well though.”
Jak has also been a reporter at local paper the Luton News while studying for his degree. The paper is divided into five publications, with Jak spending most of his time on the Luton News and Leighton Buzzard Observer.
He said: “I’ll be sad to leave the newspaper because it’s given me such a breadth of experience. You never know what you’re going to be reporting on from one day to the next! I was also able to use all the work I’ve done locally in a portfolio for my interview at Time Magazine.”
Jak started off at the Luton News doing work experience, but ended up working three days a week as a roving reporter which saw him accompany police on midnight raids, scuba-dive and even get a tattoo!
He has dreams of feature writing for the Guardian and believes his internship at TIME Magazine, based at the Blue Fin building in London, could give him the competitive edge that journalists need.
Two of Jak’s tutors pushed him to achieve. He said: “Deena Ingham and Kate Ironside were brilliant because they have so much industry experience and could advise me about the realities of journalism. Deena was actually the person who pointed me towards applying for this internship.”
Deena, who used to lead the Journalism programmes and is now the University's Teaching Enhancement Developer, said: "I recommended Jak for this internship because I believed he will be an asset to TIME Magazine and is a great ambassador for the University. Combined with the skills he's developed on his degree course, he has the potential and attitude which will take him a long way.”
His dedication was recognised at his graduation ceremony when he was awarded a prize acknowledging his outstanding achievement in the field of journalism.
Latest news» 2011» October» University graduate off for the TIME of his life
