MA (Hons) History & Politics, 1993
From Aberdeen to BBC News
We spoke to Adam Porter about how his University of Aberdeen degree in History & Politics helped him on his journey to becoming a recognised voice in millions of homes around the UK as part of his role working in the BBC Radio Newsroom.
Your Time at Aberdeen
Why did you choose to study at Aberdeen?
It was a good course, and I liked the campus.
Why did you choose your particular course?
Originally I started with Politics and International Relations, with History on the side. When it came to narrowing down to two subjects, I decided that Politics and History was the better option.
What did you most enjoy about your time at Aberdeen?
I enjoyed student life, and running the Political Studies Society. Aberdeen is also a great city, and is surrounded by fantastic countryside.
If you were involved in any clubs and societies as a student, what did you enjoy most about them and what benefit do you think they have for students?
I ran the Political Studies Society for a couple of years, and changed it from a rather uninteresting group with a small membership into an organisation which invited big names to Aberdeen to speak. We had politicians of all parties, including MPs at Question Time events, and had lectures from media names such as Sandy Gall and James Naughtie.
What advice would you give to prospective students to help them make the most of their time at the University of Aberdeen?
Get involved in clubs and societies as they're a great way of gaining organisational skills. Make the most of being in a vibrant city, and don't forget to explore the local area. And, of course, do the work you have to do.
Your Time After Aberdeen
What was the title of your first job after graduating from Aberdeen and what did your first role involve?
Broadcast Journalist, I was one half of the news team at a small local radio station, Wessex FM, finding, writing, and reading the news.
What is your current job title and what is your current role?
Broadcast Journalist - I work in the BBC Radio Newsroom, which provides the news for the BBC national radio networks. I write and compile summaries, and also read the news on Radio 2 and 6Music.
Please briefly describe the journey from your first job after graduating to where you are now.
After a couple of years in my first job at Wessex FM in Dorchester, I became News Editor of a new local commercial radio station in Chichester, Spirit FM. After five years there, I got a job in the BBC Radio Newsroom in 2001. A few years ago, the news reading duties for Radio 2 were transferred to the Newsroom, and I was able to become part of the small team which reads the news on air at Radio 2.
Was your degree at Aberdeen essential for getting to where you are now? If so, in what way?
For journalism, having any degree is pretty much essential if you want to get onto the further training courses needed to get a job. My particular degree helped because a knowledge of politics and history is always useful.
One Top Tip
Make yourself stand out from crowd, because there will be lots of people all trying to get onto the career ladder. Use your time at University to do things which will help you show that you're serious about whatever it is you want to do.
