Increasingly, journalists are being hired by non-media organisations looking to publish their own professional, journalistic content online.
One such journalist, Steve Thachet, graduated from our International Broadcast Journalism MA in 2012, and now has the somewhat unique role of producing podcasts for the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency’s Office of Public Information (IAEA). Here’s his story.
"As an Audio Consultant for the IAEA, I have the responsibility of producing audio features for their podcast channel, to disseminate the work of the agency and to improve their relationship with other radio broadcasters.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) :: IAEA TalkTo do this I produce news stories that can be used for broadcasting. The stories include interviews and radio packages made with IAEA staff, delegates and agency scientists; which are then sent to UN Radio for broadcast.
Also, I am involved with organising interviews and producing news materials for the Annual General Conference, Scientific Forum and other important conferences of the IAEA."
Photo credit: IAEA Databank
"There are many things I love about my job. The most important one is the realisation that I am working for the United Nations.
The IAEA has an important mandate to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. To be part of the mandate and to promote the agency’s work is something I fell happy to do.
During my first year with the agency, I had the chance to interact with scientists, delegates and ambassadors from all over the world and learn a great deal on how international organisations like IAEA work.
To be part of the multinational and diverse field of the United Nations makes me feel like I am part of something important."
"I was fortunate to have been taught by Diane Kemp (pictured above) and Bob Calver who were very supportive and gave firm guidance during my time at the University.
Also I had great classmates. Birmingham City University has some of the best infrastructures and equipment available on the market, and I had the chance to use them as I liked, which greatly helped during my course and made the one-year I spent there fruitful."
"The reason I was taken in as an intern to the IAEA was because of my broadcast training from Birmingham City University.
I was lucky when I applied for the internship to IAEA; they were looking for a broadcast journalist to restart their audio outputs.
Professionally, the International Broadcast Journalism MA (IBJ) taught me the skills and professionalism that is needed for my current job.
My base was strong and it was easy for me to move into this job and produce audio stories just after my degree. Till now all my work has been based on what I was taught at Birmingham City University and this knowledge has helped me get my present job."