Infancy
This page is dedicated to my work in its infancy as a journalist. How I caught the bug, and before any formal training
An Unwitting Entry Into Journalism
During my years as a GCSE student, I had the privilege of being offered a job by Mr. Evans to work alongside him as a photographer for a local rugby club, with Mr. Evans serving as the press officer.
During this time, I was published multiple times in The Totnes Times, The Western Morning News, and Dartmouth Chronicle. This experience helped me figure out that I wanted to do something in journalism.
COVID-19 And The Research Years
During the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple lockdowns, I was off work at the time, both as an apprentice car mechanic and a barman. I watched a BBC documentary on the Iraq War (Once Upon A Time In Iraq), having always been fascinated by war. In one episode, a war correspondent and photographer were explaining their involvement and experiences in the conflict. At that moment, I knew that would be my dream job.
Following this, I watched countless documentaries, films, and read books on war photographers and correspondents, including but not limited to ones on the late Marie Colvin, the late Tim Hetherington, the late Chris Hondros, Jason P. Howe, Paul Conroy, Don McCullin, and Ross Kemp.
After absorbing all this material, I was told about two local people I should talk to: the journalist and former Sky News anchor Scott Chisholm, whom I knew personally, and The Times correspondent Anthony Loyd, whom I had met but didn’t know. Both were and continue to be immensely helpful, kind, and courteous to me in my aspiration to become a war correspondent/photographer, and I’m truly grateful to them for that.
Travel, The Website And Looking For Education
After qualifying as a Level 3 diagnostic and repair light vehicle technician, I left the trade to expand my photography portfolio, see the world, and pursue my dream job.
I set up this website as a platform to share my work and manage my portfolio. It has grown with every iteration.
What started as one gap year turned into two, and over that time, I’ve seen more of the world and honed my photography and travel skills.
During the final six months of travel, my attention turned to education and what that would look like moving forward.
Getting My Foot
In The Door
Potential Entry Points:
South Devon College UAL Digital Media: Creative Media Production Extended Diploma Level 3
NCTJ Certificate in Foundation Journalism by distance learning Level 3
City of Portsmouth College NCTJ Diploma in Journalism Level 5
News Associates NCTJ part-time Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (18 months) remote Level 5
