Student Oliver Phillips reflects on his three years of studying English and Journalism. Oliver discusses how his English and Journalism studies at BCU revealed unique overlaps between storytelling and reporting, built his confidence through live newsroom experiences, and offered a strong sense of community. He also shares valuable skills he’s gained and gives advice for new students.
What aspects of the English and Journalism course have surprised you the most?
I would say that after three years of studying English and Journalism, the most interesting aspect has been how the two courses blend and interact. A module on creative writing and story arcs in the first year helped me craft shots, flow, and stories for interviews and news packages. Meanwhile, reading about riots and protests happening across the world in the newsroom helped me understand Parable of the Sower on a completely different level. The intersection between reality and fiction, both in the fictional sense and also in a journalistic approach, is what I find endlessly interesting about my course.
Can you describe a module or project that had a meaningful impact on your understanding of English and Journalism?
This is a hard question, as there isn’t just one module or "golden bullet," but I would say the reformatting of my brain and the confidence that live newsroom work has given me has been transformative. Being told that you can hold power to account, that you can talk to strangers about politics, and that no superstar or government official is too unreachable for a quote; with the right attitude, patience, and determination has changed my outlook on life. Although that sounds a bit hyperbolic, it is accurate. If I showed my 16-year-old burger-flipping self my camera roll and portfolio, he wouldn’t believe I was capable of it.
English and Journalism at BCU
Find out more about our courses
How has studying at BCU influenced the way you think or approach the world outside of university?
BCU is an interesting university because, compared to other universities I’ve experienced that feel disconnected within colleges or cohorts (or even cities), this university somehow brings everything together into one cohesive, approachable community. I’ve made friends who are fashion students, opera singers, polyglots, and people from different cities, age groups, and countries. While this can be said about all universities, the approachability and culture of conversation, events, and community that BCU encourages show that no person is worth writing off from a first impression. No stranger you meet in the hallway has a boring story. If you’re at this university, you have something to say, and someone will listen.
What skills or insights have you gained from this course that you think will be useful in your future career?
BCU has given me tons of practical skills - some I expected to learn, and others that were complete curveballs. I treasure things like my media law training and see myself using that, along with the many interpersonal skills and lessons I’ve learned in text analysis, craft, and lesser-known histories, for inspiration in the years to come.
What advice would you give to someone considering studying English and Journalism?
English and Journalism are two courses, and although it isn’t double the workload, they are still two separate “worlds.” Learn how to find the seams between the two and pick at them. You’ll be sat between these two courses with a small group of students who are in the same boat as you, so don’t be afraid to reach out for help from both lecturers and classmates. Also, read widely and think about how things you already know can be applied to what you’re learning now; And, for the sake of your own sanity, join a university society - a good one. It will make such a difference.