STUDENTS

Mentoring

Student members are also able to participate in a formalised mentoring scheme. As part of your membership, you will be entitled to seek advice from those on the National Committee and other members, who will be only too pleased to help.

There is a wealth of experience among the members, in broadcasting, online, multimedia and print journalism. Experience which you can access directly. Reporters like John Cross of the Mirror, Adam Crafton of the Athletic, and Jacqui Oatley of ITV football: all of them would be delighted to answer your questions. And while they can’t gift you a job, these are people who can offer tips on how to approach an interview, how to write a headline, how to sell a story. All of them too, will tell you how much words of advice from senior writers helped them along the way.

If you would like to access this unique and valuable resource, first you need to join the FWA. Student membership is ridiculously reasonable, just £5 a season (which also entitles you to vote for the Footballer of the Year) . And can be gained by emailing the Membership Secretary John Ley at statmanjon@aol.com

Then contact the scheme’s coordinator Jim White (that’s the Telegraph’s White, not the bloke with a yellow tie on transfer deadline day). His email is jim.white1@outlook.com

Let him know in which area of the profession you are hoping to specialise and he will put you in touch with a relevant connection. It is that simple.