Megan Harwood-Baynes's multi-generational UEA story
By: UEA Alumni team
Megan Harwood-Baynes graduated in 2017 with a BA in American Literature with Creative Writing. She is now a Social Affairs & Health Reporter at Sky News. In this interview, she tells us all about how experience at UEA set her up for a career in journalism, and why she is running the marathon in memory of her father.
What have you been up to since you graduated?
After graduation I moved to the Isle of Wight to study a journalism apprenticeship. After two years learning from some of the best reporters and editors, I made the big move back to the mainland and worked on the social media team at PA (formerly known as the Press Association). I was one of the first in the newsroom assigned to write about "this new illness coming out of Wuhan" - which was something I would continue to cover in depth for several years. This heightened my interest in writing about health inequality. Recent work has included covering the trade of illicit abortion pills on social media and being one of the only reporters in courtroom seven at the trial of Lucy Letby.
What was your ambition for your career when you started at UEA? Did you have a specific career path in mind?
I have wanted to be a journalist from about the age of 15. My dad encouraged me to pursue writing as a career (my first choice was actually a lawyer, but we both agreed I couldn't base a career off the fact I enjoyed arguing with people...) and he encouraged me to apply to UEA, which has the best creative writing course in the country.
Tell me about your experiences studying at UEA
My dad graduated from UEA about 30 years before me, and Norwich was always a special place to him. When I started to show an interest in writing, he encouraged me to think about applying for creative writing. He drove me to a UEA open day (about an eight hour round trip for us) and I fell in love with the university; stepping onto the campus felt like coming home. He was delighted when I was accepted onto the course and even more excited when I moved into his former digs, Norfolk Terrace. He used to tease me that it was more fun in his day because they could climb out onto the roof to sunbathe (the closest I got to that was rescuing a drunk student who had climbed out someone else's window....). I loved living on campus so much that after my year abroad I moved back onto it - it made it easier to run Concrete, the student newspaper (I spent about 90% of my fourth year in union house - if I wasn't in the media office, I was behind the Unio bar making coffee).
Megan Harwood-Baynes and her father celebrating graduation
How did your year abroad help with your career?
It certainly made me more employable but perhaps not in the ways you would expect... Because it was a pass fail year I was able to be a bit more relaxed about the academics so went out and got an internship at a local magazine (I sort of forced them to let me do it, and kind of just kept turning up at their offices every week until they would let me write things). I ended up covering some amazing stories about the local community which helped me get my first journalism job after graduation.
What personal or professional achievement are you most proud of?
I was named NCTJ Apprentice of the Year in 2018 - this meant a lot to me because it was also the year my dad died, so to be able to achieve so much in my career while also dealing with that was huge for me. I just wish he had been around to see me pick up the award (the ceremony was two months after he died).
What were your experiences of Norwich as a city?
Living in the golden triangle was brilliant. I love the centre of the city - there was always new food to eat, new bars to try, new things to see. If journalism wasn't so London-centric I would move back in a heartbeat.
Is there any advice you would give to current students, wishing to follow a similar career path to you?
Join Concrete! Write as much as you can for them and then find as much work experience as you can - don't take no for an answer. The number of job rejections I have had in my career must be more than 50 or so now, but keep going, you'll get there. (And if you can, get a job on a local paper and work your way up).
What is next for you?
The London Marathon! I am running the marathon to raise money for the hospice who looked after my dad - something I would never have even contemplated as a student. But I have always loved a challenge.