Q. What inspired you to seek a career in broadcast journalism?
A. I knew from very early on. When I was about nine my mother was studying to become a film-maker at the London College of Communication (formerly the London School of Printing). She would often make short films with me and my brothers, one was a horror with me playing some flesh eating monster I still have that on tape actually – it was hilarious. I remember one weekend she did this mock interview asking us what we wanted to be when we grew up and I said I wanted to be a Journalist. My interest stemmed from my love of writing and my eagerness to tell a good story. For me, journalism combined both these skills and it seemed the natural profession for me.
Q. How did you break into the industry?
A. After studying English at Goldsmith’s I tried to get into print journalism but it was such a closed shop. I had to get a job so I worked in a call center, it was only meant to be six months but I ended up staying there for two whole years – by the end of it I thought I was losing my mind – often answering my own phone saying “Hello, thanks for calling… call center, Rienkje speaking how can I help you? Yeah that was a pretty numbing period, I hated it. During my time at the call center I did a number of journalism/producer placements but still couldn’t break in. It was Catch-22 territory. Everyone I wanted to work for wanted me to have experience and the work experience wasn’t enough but they weren’t prepared to give me the experience or a chance and that was so frustrating. After numerous conversations with a plethora of people I realized that a postgraduate course might be the way to go.
Q. Which course did you take and how did it help you?
A. I took the MA in Broadcast Journalism at the University College Falmouth in 2006. It was a very practical course and gave me the necessary skills I needed to compete in the industry. I started my career reporting for BBC Radio Devon in Plymouth.
Q. Do you recommend postgraduate courses?
A. The postgraduate route worked for me. It got my career moving but it’s not for everyone. Journalism can be a difficult industry to crack but each path can be completely different. When you want to be successful you have to be focused, determined, driven and very patient.
Q. Where are you working currently?
A. I split my time producing for BBC London 94.9, ITN’s London Tonight and reporting for Euro news. I also contribute to Colorful Radio’s The Saturday Salmagundi with Toby Kell-Ogg and the Oggettes (one of them being me). Most of the time I’m cracking up live on air, if you want to do the same tune in from 7:30am.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A. I’m passionate about film, it’s a fascinating medium. I see myself moving in the film-making direction and journalism has played a big part in that progression. Film-makers like Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock and Francis Ford Coppola (to name a few) have left lasting marks. I can watch their work over and over again, learning something new each time. I admire the natural performances they draw from their actors. I’m a real fiend for foreign directors such as Jacques Audiard, Chan-wook Park and Pedro Almodovar – these incredible story tellers are underrated and still don’t get the credit they deserve, yet they have brought some of the most amazing stories to cinema – they make mainstream Hollywood seem formulaic and extremely dull.
Q. What are your favorite films?
A. Some of my favorites and this is in no particular order…Vertigo, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, City of God, Goodfellas, Interview with the Vampire, Godfather, American History X, Jaws, City of God, Old Boy, Pulp Fiction, La Haine, Last of the Mohicans, Leon, Do The Right Thing, Once Upon A Time in America, Amelie… I could go on forever; I’d better end it there.
You can follow Rienkje on twitter @rienkjelondon
Martina McCullough