By Andrew Brown, deputy editor
Journalism - especially newspaper journalism - is a fantastic career upon which to embark, which is why so many people are fighting so hard to get into the industry. Competition for places at the Southport Visiter, whether full-time or for work placement, is extremely high.
This morning I have received two requests (both via e-mail) from journalism students seeking work experience at the Southport Visiter.
The spelling in both was appalling - one requested a period of time at the 'Southport Vistitor' (sic).
If budding journalists are not even able (or bothered) to spell correctly when sending in requests to work in a busy newsroom, it does not bode well for the diligence and care needed to work well on a local newspaper.
Is poor education to blame? Apathy? Or the increasingly accepted use of text-English in e-mails and texts where the meaning of the missive is all-important with correct spelling and grammar irrelevant?
Either way, it has been a disappointing morning.
Fortunately, we currently have two journalism students (Janine Yaqoob and Eleanor Shilliday) with us from John Moores University whose determination, enthusiasm and ability has been something to admire, and both should go a long way. If only all journalism students could reach and maintain such high standards.
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