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Graduate Q&A: Grace Marner (BSc Biology)

Biology graduate Grace Marner chose to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.

Here she explains how her course helped to prepare her for work and offers some tips on how to follow in her footsteps.

biology-alumni-Grace-Marner-
Hull Alumni Grace Marner

What did you do after you graduated from the University of Hull?

I went to The University of Sheffield to do an MA in Broadcast Journalism and then went to work in local radio.

What is your typical working day?

Currently I’m working as a broadcast Journalist so I write and read the news on air every hour. I also go out to interview people in the area, take photos and videos and upload them to our social media pages. I also write the articles that appear online.

biology-alumni-Grace-Marner-at-work

What do you like most about your job?

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I like the variety of people I get to meet. I’ve interviewed such a huge range of people, from politicians like Liz Truss to the average Joe down the street. I like seeing how much of a difference we make to people by broadcasting their stories.

What’s been the highlight in your career to date?

television

I won a Royal Television Society Student award for my MA dissertation video, which was based on research from the University of Hull. It was a huge honour to even be nominated and really prestigious to be able to put it on my CV but to pick up that trophy really was something special.

What’s your ambition?

I would love to get into children’s based media or work on natural history programmes. I still have a huge interest in science and my ultimate aim is to work on science programmes aimed at children to make sure we’re still inspiring the next generation of scientists."

Q. How did your time at Hull set you up for success?

biology-alumni-Grace-Marner

My time at Hull set me up with so many transferable skills, not only within the Biology course itself but with the societies I joined. My first bits of experience all came from doing a few videos with Torch TV. I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome within my first year at Hull and the pastoral care I received really has set me up for life in understanding my limits and how to create a good work-life balance. It also helps me as a journalist finding stories. Whenever I go to a new newsroom or company, I want to go with a new story idea to impress them and show them I am job-worthy material. Thanks to the Biology course, I know how to find the latest research and pitch these to editors.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get in to the same line of work?

Get as much experience as possible. Unfortunately, the media is still based around who you know but the more work experience you get, the more contacts you build up. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people in the job-role you want and ask them how they got there and what advice they would give you.

What would you say to anyone thinking of studying Biological Sciences at Hull?

Coming to Hull was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The teaching is second to none and we really are at the forefront of some amazing research. Whether you want a career in biological sciences at the end of it or you’re doing it because it’s just a subject you enjoy, you’ll really gain something from the department. They care about you as an individual and from my experience they will go above and beyond to help you develop yourself and your career.

Biological Sciences Workshop
Students in a Biological Sciences Workshop

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