Mohammed Salim Patel studied BA (Hons) International Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, which allowed him to gain the experience and insight to secure his dream job at the BBC.
Mohammed graduated with a first, giving him the motivation and belief that he could get a job. He describes the journey after graduating as being slow but the opportunities that were available to him on the course allowed him to work with and meet the right people.
Mohammed said: “I was given the opportunity to gain work experience, get into the BBC and meet the editors there. I used those opportunities to showcase my journalistic ability and enthusiasm. This enabled me to approach those very editors once I’d graduated to secure some form of employment. Having proved to them what I could do through the opportunities the University gave me, it wasn’t hard for them to take a chance on me. I also kept giving them story ideas and showcasing my blog to them whilst I was at UCLan.”
Mohammed is now working on BBC North West Tonight as their planning producer. He said: “I’m working for a region and with a team that’s great, and to be a fundamental part of what you see on the programme is a real joy.”
In the future Mohammed hopes to work as a disability correspondent, as he is registered blind, or to turn his passion of boxing into a job working for the BBC’s boxing team. Mohammed praised the tutors on the course who, he said: “gave him the confidence and belief that he could do something that he loves”.
Talking about what advice he’d give to students, Mohammed said: “Make the most of your time at UCLan, especially your lecturers, they are experienced and can put you in contact with people you need to know. Enjoy your time, UCLan and Preston are great places to be and you will meet loads of new people.
“Never waste work experience or shadowing opportunities you get through your time at UCLan because that’s what’s going to come in useful once you graduate.”
17 July 2020