Death knocks changed Ashley's outlook

After leaving JMU in 2008, Journalism graduate Ashley Straw was offered a job at Cavendish Press Agency in Manchester, after seeing off a host of local and national media talent hopefuls from across the country.

The agency sell breaking news stories to local and national newspapers, often for large sums of money and Ashley worked as the court reporter for them.

But it wasn’t long before Ashley realised that working in journalism is not for the faint-hearted. Dealing with death and misery on a regular basis, he says it soon started to get to him and he has left his job at Cavendish.

“Morally I couldn’t justify the things I was doing. If I talk to another bereaved parent or go on another hopeless door knock, it will be too soon. I know it seems silly to quit my job in today’s current job climate, but it was effecting my general happiness and no job should do that.

“I was in a different city, earning rubbish money and I had to pay for rent etc, so my finances were also another factor.”

Ashley had nothing but praise for the Journalism department
at John Moores and he said coming to JMU helped him
develop a lot:

“I am very thankful to the journalism department at the university
for helping me to get into an industry which I have had an interest
in from an early age.

“The staff at the department are passionate about what they do, and they should be praised for helping students realise their potential.

“I really enjoyed the third year of my degree as it was very hands-on and made me realise how much I would like to work in the industry.”

Ashley was full of praise for shorthand teacher Sue Green, and stressed the importance of leaving university with an NCTJ qualification.

“I would seriously advise all students who are serious about a career in journalism to work hard and get this accreditation, as these qualifications are relevant across all news mediums. I have sat alongside some of the top journalists from the BBC and they take down at least 100 words per minute shorthand," said Ashley.

So what now for Derby County fanatic Ashley? He admits that news journalism was not for him: “I still intend to remain within the media but probably in a different sphere. News wasn’t my calling but I may be moving into PR.”

 Death knocks can help
 Journalism lecturer
 Jackie Newton says
 reporters can aid the
 healing process >>