18 November 2008

Jane takes the stage

Former Sheffield MA Web Journalism student Jane Omara took the stage at the Society of Editors conference in Manchester recently to tell editors about her experience in her first year working as a multi-media journalist.

In a line-up of major media figures ranging from Sly Bailey of Trinity Mirror and Robert Peston of the BBC to Peter Preston of the Guardian, Jane impressed delegates with her authority and composure as she explained to previous generations what it meant to be working in the new media world.

As a reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth since she completed her Sheffield course in 2007, Jane has to write stories for the paper as well as produce videos and text for the website. She found the variety challenging and satisfying.

She showed delegates her recent video on how the credit crunch was affecting shoppers in Plymouth.

There were murmurs of approval around the hall for her engaging, professional and amusing series of interviews around a local market.

While the conference discussed the future, Jane demonstrated the present. They were not so very different.