Twenty One Years In The Making
Looking back through my portfolio of 21 years of journalism and I found my first-ever front page exclusive for the South Wales Argus in 2002.
As a cub reporter based in the newsroom, I quickly learned that journalism was a high-octane profession, and that you never knew what story you would be covering at the start of each day. It was exhilarating and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Of course, there were difficult days when we broke tragic news stories, wrote obituaries and attended funerals, but there were also stories of triumph over adversity, heroic actions and human-kindness.
It’s a privilege to be able to tell people’s stories and share their news.
My first exclusive came from a call to the newsroom to say that a car had ploughed through the wall of a cottage near Usk. With notebook and pen in hand, (the first camera phone came out a few months later) I was sent straight to the location in my little Vauxhall Corsa to cover the incident. When I arrived I found a father and son, who escaped with only minor cuts and bruises, standing amongst the rubble of what was their living room. I think I was in as much shock as them but the retired farm labourer and his son talked me through the dramatic event. I went straight back to the newsroom and had to write up the story to deadline, transcribing my shorthand notes quickly.
The story made the front page the following day and it’s a feeling I’ll never forget. Even today, seeing your name in print is still as rewarding as ever.
If you have a story to tell, would like help writing a press release, want to shout about an award, event or charity then why not give me a call? We can have a chat over a cup of tea or coffee.
Email me at journalist@katharineskellon.com or drop me a DM via social media.
