What Makes a Good Reporter?

Journalist Shelagh Fogarty gets out of bed at 3.45 am to work for ‘the best broadcasting organisation on the planet’, it is claimed.

Shelagh Fogarty, who earns an impressive £150,000 a year, claims that being nosy and the ability to listen are the characteristics that make her a good reporter. ‘The ability to notice the things going on around you is important. That’s where you will find good stories’ said Shelagh.

Shelagh has been working as a journalist for 20 years, and declares the BBC to be ‘the best broadcasting organisation on the planet.’ She started on the BBC’s radio reporter trainee scheme which allowed her to train at five different radio stations before starting permanent work, to get her used to the industry.

The day in the life of Shelagh Fogarty, however, is not as glamorous as it appears. She is a dedicated reporter, with her alarm waking her up at 3.45am to be in the television centre for 4.30am. An hour and a half is spent reading through newspapers, preparing interviews and reading through her scripts, all for a three hour ‘on air’ slot from six am till nine am.

‘Motivation and dedication are also key characteristics of any aspiring journalist, as it is not a normal nine to five job…you’ll never know the hours you’ll get’ said Shelagh, ‘There’s no drinking in the week and I have to go to bed by 8 pm…sacrifices are a must’.

Shelagh says how she ‘loves to talk’, and therefore Radio Journalism was the ‘obvious choice.’ The job gives her ‘more responsibility for the stories and is generally more fun’. Shelagh Fogarty is one of the main broadcasters on the breakfast show and co-hosts every weekday morning alongside Nicky Campbell.