Alumni

Matthew Scott

Career Path: Sub-Editor, Goal.com; Digital Journalist; and Perform Training Lead, WMG
Location: Yorkshire, UK

After graduating from Northumbria, I continued an internship I had picked up during my studies with Goal.com, a football journalism website. My aim when deciding to study Journalism was to get into the Sports Journalism industry, and soon afterwards I was offered a full-time role editing and writing copy. I was still based in the North East and this gave me the chance to cover games live from Newcastle and Sunderland's stadiums.

I then moved to Leeds to join a sports news agency, working here for several years and attending large-scale events such as the 2017 Champions League final, The ICC Champions Trophy and other major events. In recent years, I have started a family and moved away from sports and journalism, moving into digital marketing and utilising the skills I picked up in the fast-paced media world to train people in working to tight deadlines and under pressure.

What are you doing now?

I work for WMG Agency, based in Yorkshire. I split time between producing SEO-focused content for our clients and training our content team on everything they need to know in order to do the best job possible.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

I grew up in Middlesbrough and had always wanted to study in Newcastle to stay true to my North East roots, while also getting hands-on experience in the different kinds of media settings that a major city can provide.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

Seminars and lectures made up the bulk of the first year of study, but more practical modules were introduced afterwards, which helped me to develop skills I would use in the industry for many years.

How connected was your course with industry?

I did not get a placement whilst studying on my course, however the practical modules gave us first-hand experience of starting projects from scratch. In this time I was part of a team that filmed, produced and edited a documentary and I also trialled several episodes of a sport podcast - something I would reprise later in my career!

What was the best thing about your course?

The practical modules helped to prepare me for thinking on my feet and making quick decisions - something which still helps me in my job to this day.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/ give your career an edge?

The advice that our lecturers offered went beyond the right and wrong way to do things. I was given the freedom to explore what I wanted to do and be creative in achieving that.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now throughout your career?

Being self-analytical and self-critical has helped me be able to not only develop my own skills, but also take on feedback from industry experts I have met along the way. In my current role, I'm now trying to give a bit of that back to others.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

My studies helped me move into my dream career, but the people I met along the way were special. I still have friends that I speak to on a daily basis that I first met over a decade ago in my first few weeks at Northumbria.