DON’T follow my example – BBC Radio presenter’s sound advice for students

Award-winning BBC Radio presenter Jane Garvey has urged students at the University of Northampton NOT to follow her example.

After receiving an honorary degree from the University earlier this month, Jane said: “This actually means quite a lot more to me than my original degree.”

She went on to explain that she was a “lacklustre” student, adding “my days at university are not something I am particularly nostalgic about”.

Watch the video interview here:

It wasn’t until some time after graduating from the University of Birmingham, when she was fired by an advertising agency, that Jane decided to follow her passion and pursue a career in radio.

“I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose anymore’, so I’m going to try and work in radio,” said Jane, who currently presents Radio Four’s Woman’s Hour and won four Sony Gold awards for her Drive show on BBC Radio Five live.

“The honorary degree recognises I’ve been able to pursue what I really love and that I have worked hard at it. I wish I could tell you it’s been easy – the truth is I work very hard to sound like I’m not making very much effort.”

Jane’s advice for undergraduates studying journalism at Northampton who want to forge a successful media career is to never give up trying to break into the industry.

She said: “You can ask and you may get rejected and that’s absolutely not the time to knock it on the head – ask again.

“These days there are any number of different ways of getting noticed, particularly in the media – you have no excuse.

“Put yourself out there, don’t follow my example. Make it impossible for a company, an online magazine or a radio station to ignore you.”

Jane also has particular advice for women to get on in the industry.

“I think it’s really important to stick your head above the parapet, to express opinions,” she said.  “It’s never been more important that women are prepared to express opinions which may not always be popular and which might get them criticism.

“This is no time to retreat – get out there and say what’s on your mind.”