Martin Lewis
This month Martin Lewis (Broadcast Diploma from 1998) tells us how Cardiff led to LK Today and one of the UK’s 100 biggest websites.
Course Studied: Postgraduate Diploma of Journalism Studies (Broadcast Option)
Graduation Year: 1998
Current Employer: Money Saving Expert
Position: TV presenter, journalist, web journalist, author, TV production company owner
Briefly describe your current position.
I’m very lucky to work across a range of media; all within my speciality of MoneySaving. I present five’s Martin Lewis’ It Pays To Watch, and for ITV1 Tonight and am the resident expert on GM-TV, LK Today, BBC Radio 1 Whiley and BBC Radio 2 Vine. I also write columns for the News of the World, Sunday Post, Moneywise and have a syndicated column in regional newspapers. And have written three books.
However for me, most important is that I set up and run MoneySavingExpert.com, which is one of the UK’s 100 biggest websites and is used by over 4m people a month.
What is the best thing about your current position?
There’s a huge variety in the work I do. Though enormous pressure on top. These days I’m lucky to be in the position where I have a team of 18 people to support my work. Yet the very specific nature of the work I do means I can see the real change it brings about on a daily basis; something that’s incredibly rewarding.
How well did your JOMEC education prepare you for your current position?
I would never have started without JOMEC. I arrived age 25, having spent time in politics and City PR before hand. My focus then was broadcasting, which has its own language and trade skills. Without them, you’re useless, and the nine months I had to learn, play, make embarrassing mistakes, and hone professional skills was simply invaluable.
Like all on my my course, having the JOMEC postrgrad on my CV made getting a job pretty easy, and it happened straight away. To go in as a reporter/producer on BBC network radio having never working in the industry before simply wouldn’t have happened without the course.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
It was intense, but with thirty on the course, we became a cohesive group, working, learning and socialising together. I’m still in close contract with six from the course and in occasional contact with the others.
Why did you choose JOMEC/Cardiff as a place to study?
For the postgrad in broadcast journalism, frankly it's quite simply the number one choice. The only competitor is City in London, my view is that’s not as good, and living in Cardiff while studying is cheaper too.
What are your plans and hopes for your professional future?
At the moment I’m enjoying my work. Having set up a production company as an added extra to make my own show, we’re also now pitching for a range of shows; some of which are vehicles for people other than me.