Retro Jordans For Sale When planning your career

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Campaigning and Social Change Course Leader Michaela O

What is your area of academic interest and which courses were you involved in?

I am interested in the way charities, NGOs (non governmental organisations) and other organisations use communications to bring about social change and social justice. I am currently doing research into the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth, and I teach on two Masters courses in the University's Department of Journalism and Mass Communications.

I am joint course leader on the University's new MA in Media, Campaigning and Social Change, which starts this September and is already attracting lots of interest from applicants. The MA aims to give students the practical skills, knowledge and strategic approach to develop and analyse social change campaigns, with a focus on communication. Every generation rediscovers the need to challenge the policies, practice and attitudes that create injustice. We hope to give the next generation of campaigners a grounding in the skills and ideas that have informed campaigners from Gandhi to Oxfam to Occupy, and to help them innovate and create new approaches to meet future challenges. My fellow course leader Anastasia Kavada and I feel privileged to be launching this new MA, and we look forward to working with the students and with our advisory panel of leading campaign communicators.

I have also taught on the MA in Public Relations (PR) for 7 years, teaching students from all over the world about the theories behind PR and public communication, as well as helping them develop practical skills such as producing media releases, blogs, newsletters, videos, tweets etc, and planning PR campaigns. I set up the UK's first module on NGO communications in 2008 as part of this MA. We have alumni working in communications roles all over the world, from the United Nations in Nepal, to universities in the US, to Yahoo and the Premier League in London!

What was your first job? What did you learn from it?

Jordan Shoes for Sale My first (unpaid) job was on the magazine Spare Rib, where I learned how to write news stories and what makes news. That job also opened my eyes to the way macro political and economic decisions impact individuals' lives. My first (paid) job was as a press officer at the charity Business in the Community, where I learned the basic level comms skills: identifying and telling a story, building relationships with your organisation's stakeholders, deciding which comms channel and framing is going to work best for which campaign. I also learned the value of a good mentor!

What did you do in your career before coming to the University of Westminster?

I worked in senior communications roles for 20 years before starting my academic career. I have worked in agencies and in house developing strategies and award winning campaigns for organisations including Amnesty International, Action Aid, the British Library, Carers UK, the Department of Education (Australia) and War on Want. I try to bring that wealth of practical experience into my teaching. In my view, practice is better when it is informed by theory, and theory is most interesting when you compare it to practice.

Jordans For Sale What advice would you give to the students during their studies and after graduation so that they make the right decisions for their career?

While you are studying, revel in the opportunity you have been given to explore new ideas, to stretch yourself and to reflect. Once you are working, you be surprised how little time you have to read and reflect. On a practical note, do take on board your tutors' advice and feedback. It will help you improve.

Retro Jordans For Sale When planning your career, firstly, draw up a route map of where you want to get to and identify the stages along the way. You can't start at the top! Secondly, what skills and knowledge will you need? List them, and tick them off as you acquire them. This is a lifelong process, not just something to do as a student. Remember that critical thinking, research skills and team work are as important as practical skills like producing a blog, video or campaign plan. Thirdly, what roles, in what types of organisations, would be useful experience on your CV? Target those roles. (One of my most useful jobs was three months in a call centre, which taught me how to use the phone with great confidence. Another was co running a local women's health campaign as a young volunteer.)

Authentic Air Jordans For Sale Finally, stay open to new ideas and the career options available. Once you begin work, you will learn a lot about the different cultures in different workplaces, and about some jobs you had never come across before. Keep your eyes and ears open and keep learning.

If you were asked to give one piece of advice to students who are considering going into Post Graduate study what would that be?

Choose something that interests you: you'll be happier both in your studies and in your career doing something you love.

People who believe in social justice and work for a fairer and more sustainable society. And the 'eureka' moment when a student comes across a new idea that stretches their understanding of the world, or learns a new skill for which they have a previously unsuspected talent.