Post by Di on Sept 20, 2005 14:53:39 GMT -5
This was an interview for a magazine from the City University London which Sophie attended.
Sophie Raworth
PG DIP BROADCAST JOURNALISM, CLASS OF 1992
BBC BREAKFAST TV
The broadcast course at City was a fantastic training ground. It prepared us all for life both on screen and off - and ten years later I cross path with fellow students all the time at the BBC.
The course was very practical. We ran our own radio station, found our own stories and made lots of mistakes along the way. I even spent a month at CBC in Ottawa. When I left, i was offered a job straight away at a local radio station and a BBC news traineeship. I went for the BBC option and I've never looked back.
Sophie Raworth
What would you be doing if you weren't in journalism?
I set my heart on working in journalism very early on, so I have never really thought too hard about what else I would have done. Photography is something I love though. My father is a very good photographer and got me and my sister into taking pictures when we were quite young. I still take a lot now, so that's something I would have liked to have pursued.
What piece of advice do you wish you'd known before, but know now?
Kevin Bocquet, a north of England correspondent for the BBC, once said to me: "When a door opens, even if it's sooner than you'd like, you should push it, because you never know what's on the other side." He was right. In the first few years of my career, I spent too long worrying about the next step, rather than enjoying the jobs I had. I was trying to plot my career rather rigidly but I found out that is difficult to do. Being a presenter was never in my grand plan.
What is your most embarrassing on-screen moment?
When Anna Ford lost her voice in the middle of the One O'Clock News, I happened to be the unlucky presenter sitting in the newsroom at the time. The editor came running out of the gallery and asked me if I could get into the studio as soon as possible. I had no make-up on and my hair wasn't groomed, but suddenly I found myself on air as Anna was whisked off the set. The next day it was in all the papers with headlines like: "this is Sophie Raworth on BBC news, with no make-up and greasy hair." Charming!
What did you really think of Trinny and Susannah?
They were good fun, but it was like living in another world. I have never paid that much attention to how I walk or the sort of face packs you should use. I'd already interviewed them quite a few times on Breakfast, so I did know them a bit anyway. When we were filming, I was fairly relaxed, but I got rather fed up being prodded and poked all the time. But to their credit, I still think about some of the tips they gave me when I go shopping.
Which guy did you fancy at City?
I had a boyfriend ... so no one else.
You seemed fairly quiet at City. Have you become more outgoing?
I don't remember being particularly quiet at City, although I certainly wasn't, and am still not, loud. I've definitely grown in confidence over the years though, but I'm sure that happens to everyone.
Which broadcaster do you most admire and why?
I've come across all kinds of great broadcasters over the years. But I think Jeremy Bowen is a fantastic correspondent who writes to pictures beautifully. I love listening to Jeremy Paxman's and John Humphry's interviewing. As for advice, I've known John Stapleton since I was a child. When I started presenting, he told me very firmly that I was to keep my feet on the ground and not become a "monster." Hopefully I've done that.
This article first appeared in the Spring 2004 edition of the XCity magazine produced by the Journalism Department of City University
Sophie Raworth
PG DIP BROADCAST JOURNALISM, CLASS OF 1992
BBC BREAKFAST TV
The broadcast course at City was a fantastic training ground. It prepared us all for life both on screen and off - and ten years later I cross path with fellow students all the time at the BBC.
The course was very practical. We ran our own radio station, found our own stories and made lots of mistakes along the way. I even spent a month at CBC in Ottawa. When I left, i was offered a job straight away at a local radio station and a BBC news traineeship. I went for the BBC option and I've never looked back.
Sophie Raworth
What would you be doing if you weren't in journalism?
I set my heart on working in journalism very early on, so I have never really thought too hard about what else I would have done. Photography is something I love though. My father is a very good photographer and got me and my sister into taking pictures when we were quite young. I still take a lot now, so that's something I would have liked to have pursued.
What piece of advice do you wish you'd known before, but know now?
Kevin Bocquet, a north of England correspondent for the BBC, once said to me: "When a door opens, even if it's sooner than you'd like, you should push it, because you never know what's on the other side." He was right. In the first few years of my career, I spent too long worrying about the next step, rather than enjoying the jobs I had. I was trying to plot my career rather rigidly but I found out that is difficult to do. Being a presenter was never in my grand plan.
What is your most embarrassing on-screen moment?
When Anna Ford lost her voice in the middle of the One O'Clock News, I happened to be the unlucky presenter sitting in the newsroom at the time. The editor came running out of the gallery and asked me if I could get into the studio as soon as possible. I had no make-up on and my hair wasn't groomed, but suddenly I found myself on air as Anna was whisked off the set. The next day it was in all the papers with headlines like: "this is Sophie Raworth on BBC news, with no make-up and greasy hair." Charming!
What did you really think of Trinny and Susannah?
They were good fun, but it was like living in another world. I have never paid that much attention to how I walk or the sort of face packs you should use. I'd already interviewed them quite a few times on Breakfast, so I did know them a bit anyway. When we were filming, I was fairly relaxed, but I got rather fed up being prodded and poked all the time. But to their credit, I still think about some of the tips they gave me when I go shopping.
Which guy did you fancy at City?
I had a boyfriend ... so no one else.
You seemed fairly quiet at City. Have you become more outgoing?
I don't remember being particularly quiet at City, although I certainly wasn't, and am still not, loud. I've definitely grown in confidence over the years though, but I'm sure that happens to everyone.
Which broadcaster do you most admire and why?
I've come across all kinds of great broadcasters over the years. But I think Jeremy Bowen is a fantastic correspondent who writes to pictures beautifully. I love listening to Jeremy Paxman's and John Humphry's interviewing. As for advice, I've known John Stapleton since I was a child. When I started presenting, he told me very firmly that I was to keep my feet on the ground and not become a "monster." Hopefully I've done that.
This article first appeared in the Spring 2004 edition of the XCity magazine produced by the Journalism Department of City University