My Leadership in Action experience was with London-based Tortoise Media. Tortoise’s purpose is to produce more focused and high-quality journalism and to work at sharing media space and power more fairly amongst communities in the UK. I was so excited to work with them as I felt my values which I had discerned over the course of the Laidlaw workshops aligned really well with the mission of the company. 6 weeks is a short time to work for a new company – but the four other Laidlaw interns and I made the most of the chance to work in a media room that prided itself on its independence and position as a voice for those who would not otherwise be heard.
My role was to aid in the expansion and diversification of the Tortoise Media readership and membership community in the most impactful way possible. Fortunately, it was not confined to this area and I was able to see into other aspects of the company such as the Sensemaker and podcast teams. I was assigned to write a long piece on an Italian politician for the Sensemaker and several short nibs on various topics. These were challenges I accepted gratefully and with gusto. Writing regularly for the Sensemaker was definitely one of my proudest achievements. I was also delighted to make such good friends with the other Laidlaw scholars.
Although I am now resolutely a law student, I was eager to study journalism when I first applied to University. This dream-come-true chance to work in a newsroom was timed just as my final year/post-grad crisis hit. Yet panic is subsiding and I view my post-grad life in a far more optimistic light thanks to my experiences with the Laidlaw programme. The directed workshops, career advice and informal conversations with my fellow scholars have opened my eyes to the opportunity to take the lead in my career and forge a path that is uniquely tailored to my strengths.
One phrase that I remember distinctly from one of the first workshops is that often a leader acts as the mayonnaise; that in a sandwich of two different or opposing flavours, there must be something (or someone) who is able to marry the two and create a new sensation. Applying this theory to my own experience, I am eager to see how my interest in media and law can complement each other. A newsroom is a far cry from a lawyer’s office. But both jobs tend to revolve around stories and the sharing of knowledge and power. A position in media or the law can be an incredibly impactful one, as we can define the narrative of our modern lives through the laws that we create and the stories that we tell. In my view, it is vital that we all understand the responsibility we have in ensuring this narrative is honest and has integrity.
The internship not only involved working in a new organisation, but a new city. As soon as I arrived in London I was confronted with the diversity of the place. Some places and people felt recognisable, like home, and others were completely foreign. I could feel my brain expanding to acknowledge the woven and colourful fabric of the city. After a couple of days however, my sense of being overwhelmed was transformed into awe. I made great friends with the other interns in the company and we talked endlessly about culture, politics, the pains of youth and the meaning of life. We got out of the office and toured around London together which gave us a sense of perspective. It might go without saying but these chats with people over lunch had a more profound effect on me personally, and my work as a result, than the spreadsheet-orientated administrative tasks did.
There were points when I was disappointed with the mismatch between Tortoise’s vision and the actuality of working there; particularly in relation to diversifying the newsroom. I intend to carry this lesson forward with me in my career; to ensure that my ideals and personal ethos begin at the ground working level before they attempt to trickle upwards through the organisation.