Gemma Joyce

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Brandwatch

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

When I left Exeter I went straight into freelance writing, before becoming a Social Data Journalist at Brandwatch. My job was to write entertaining stories using social media data to share with a massive global readership. While I worked I got my NCTJ Diploma in News Journalism, and won Student of the Year, which was a big achievement for me. I’ve now been promoted to Content Manager which means I look after all kinds of content at Brandwatch (including the fun data stories).

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I always wanted to write, and I spent a lot of my time at Exeter writing for (and eventually editing) Exeposé. My favourite thing about my current role is digging interesting stories out of massive data sets, and then sharing them with the world. It’s so satisfying when something you’ve worked on makes waves online.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

Philosophy was brilliant for my writing as it helps you think about how to make the strongest point and to cut away all the irrelevant stuff. I really loved all the interesting areas I got to study in Sociology, especially when I got to apply what I was learning in Philosophy to ‘real life’. It was great for learning to think from different perspectives.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I loved the campus, it had a great reputation, and it had the course I wanted.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Working for the student newspaper was really good for my career. I learned about deadlines, finding stories in unexpected places, and working with a big team. It was massively helpful for getting work experience and then getting my job when I graduated.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

My advice would be to volunteer now for campus media and get things published. There are so many great opportunities to get stuck in and put your name on cool things, don’t miss out!

What are your plans for the future?

I love writing and I love journalism, so I’m going to keep doing that.