Natasha Onwuemezi BA English, 2015

Reporter at The Bookseller

I chose Southampton because the English course is one of the best in the country – as are the lecturers. I also absolutely loved the campus.

What were your Southampton highlights?

Being voted course rep of English in my first year was pretty amazing. I also loved writing my dissertation.

What other activities did you take advantage of while at University?

I was president of Monte JCR and was Online Editor of the Edge.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

I enjoyed the diversity and variety of the course. In particular, I absolutely loved the Jewish Fiction and Holocaust Literature modules and the staff support and passion for those subjects.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

I have interviewed Booker Prize winner, Marlon James; Guardian journalist Gary Young and presenters Richard and Judy which has been pretty cool. I’ve been fortunate enough to go on work trips to Latvia, Frankfurt and Edinburgh and I was named a Literary Hero by Influx Press and was shortlisted for an industry trailblazer award by the London Book Fair.

How did your time at Southampton help you to grow as a person and help you get to where you are now?

Essay writing really helped me to learn the skills needed to turn over fast, clean copy in my role as a reporter. Also helps in my knowledge of story structure. English degree gave me a very valuable knowledge of literature and the publishing industry which has been incredibly helpful in my role as a reporter for the industry’s trade magazine.

What advice would you give to a student starting their degree at Southampton?

I would say it would be good to explore a lot of avenues and take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you – there are a lot. Then find what you love and do that!

What tips would you give to current students looking to start a career in your sector?

Exploit a niche, or lesser known… For publishing, research lesser known aspects of the industry such as publicity, production etc, editorial is very over-subscribed. For journalism, start a blog, get Twitter, develop a voice, write loads, get as much experience as possible (the Wessex Scene, Edge and Soton Tab are all ace).