Interviews, bylines and other feats of a junior copywriter
As the application deadline looms for Speak’s junior copywriting role, a member of our copy team shares what she enjoys most about being part of the always-on newsroom.
I graduated university – remotely, I might add – straight into the unemployment crisis brought on by Covid-19. The application I submitted for a junior copywriter role at Speak Media was number 154 in an obnoxiously long spreadsheet of jobs. Imagine my elation when George, Speak’s head of content, called me after the interview to tell me the position was mine. With that, my goal of working as a writer in a bustling London newsroom was within reach.
A few days later, I was standing in my kitchen-slash-living room, hot coffee in hand, laptop set up on a makeshift standing desk made out of cardboard boxes. It was glorious.
Things move quickly in Speak’s newsroom. This, I realised when I published my very first article for one of our clients, the EPDA – on my second day. And my responsibilities only evolved from there: by my fourth month, I was publishing more bylines than I can count, conducting interviews with people from all backgrounds, helping clients to tell the stories that matter and managing internal processes of my own.
What’s more, it was all happening online – but I never felt like I was missing out. I liked seeing my colleagues’ faces smiling out of little boxes on my screen, at our Monday morning catch-ups and Friday get-togethers. Far from fumbling through onboarding alone in my small London flat, I felt assured from day one that help is just a call or message away.
Since those first few months, this feeling of assured confidence has only grown stronger as we’ve been able to meet in person. From convening each week at our favourite King’s Cross office space, to marking the 10th annual Values Walk with an autumnal Richmond stroll – chances to make the most of our great workplace culture are always there.
I’ve also learned that writing is just one part of a role that is always moving. Sometimes I’m zoned into articles from clock-in to clock-out; other times, I’m hopping from one editorial meeting to the next. Most days contain a bit of everything: scouring channels for new story ideas, proofing articles with meticulous care, scheduling and carrying out interviews, managing social media sites – and a bit of a shock when I look at the clock and realise it’s almost closing time.
There’s always something going on, and it never feels like busy work. Team lunches help keep the team on track towards a common purpose. We’re reminded to dig deep into why we do the work that we do – why we support our clients in telling their best stories, and why those stories matter. Weekly one-to-ones with our deputy head of content Laura foster an ongoing conversation about my personal goals and how I’m working towards them through each assignment. And chats with everyone in between remind me of the close-knit group I get to call my team.
All in all, I couldn’t ask for a better plunge into working life. I know there is much more to come and, thanks to the experience I’ve gained at Speak so far, I’m ready for it.